igliint 1 S4 R ~FI Circular 317 March 1996 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University. Alabama Lowell T. Frobish, Director S a;

Transcription

1 ..L A igliint 1 S R S a; 'f ~FI 9 9 r Circular 17 March 1996 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Auburn University. Alabama Lowell T. Frobish, Director

2 On the cover: a top-performing yellow pansy cultivar, Universal Plus Yellow Blotch, from Goldsmith Seed. Information contained herein is available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin.

3 ANNUAL, WINTER TRIAL GARDEN RESULTS DARBY QUINN, BRIDGET BEHE, AND JIMMY WITT INTRODUCTION FROM FALL 199 THROUGH SPRING 199, bedding plant cultivars were evaluated in the All-America Selections (AAS) Display Garden at the E.V. Smith Research Center (EVSRC). The objective of this study was to determine the cold tolerance and overall performance of winter-flowering annual plant cultivars to assist Alabama horticultural professionals and consumers in plant selection. Results may vary from year to year as climatic conditions affect cultivar performance. AAS is a non-profit organization founded in 19 to encourage the development of superior flower and vegetable cultivars through controlled trials; select AAS "winners" based on the nationwide trials; and communicate these winners to professionals and consumers through a network of display gardens and printed media. The EVSRC Trial Garden was established as an AAS Display Garden in 199. EVSRC, a unit of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station, is located in Shorter, 1 miles east of Montgomery, Ala. (latitude 'N, longitude 8 'W). Similar tests were conducted at more than display gardens throughout the U.S. to assess the general performance of new bedding plant cultivars under local environmental conditions. The nearest of these other trial gardens is located at Callaway Gardens in Pine Mountain, Ga. Other display gardens in Alabama Quinn is a research specialist and Behe is an associate professor in the Auburn University Department of Horticulture. Witt is superintendent of the E.V. Smith Research Center Horticulture Unit.

4 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results are at Bellingrath Gardens in Theodore and the Birmingham Botanical Garden. This publication presents results from the E.V. Smith trials. Comparison of results from several display sites will increase the reliability of the findings because environmental variables such as air temperature, humidity, exposure, cultural practices, soil type, rainfall and supplemental irrigation, and insect and disease pressures can greatly affect plant performance. MATERIALS AND METHODS Raised beds were created using existing Norfolk-Orangeburg loamy sand association soil (fine, loamy, siliceous, thermic Typic Kandiudults). The beds were constructed three years ago using treated railroad ties. Soil was tilled and fumigated with methyl bromide the previous April, and the soil was tested and amended accordingly at that time. After planting, there was no additional fertilization, pesticide application, or deadheading during the course of the evaluation. The beds were watered with an overhead irrigation system to provide one inch of total rainfall and supplemental irrigation each week. Beds were located in full sun and a bark mulch was applied to a depth of approximately two inches after planting. Seeds of the entries were donated by several companies and grown by a single commercial producer in Alabama. Twelve plants of each cultivar were planted in two rows of six each, and they were planted nine inches on center. The outside four plants were used as guard rows. The inside eight plants were evaluated bimonthly from, 199, through March 7, 199. They were rated each time by the same person using a 1- scale ( = plant died; 1 = small display of foliage with no flowers; = adequate foliage with no flowers or few buds showing; = adequate to large amount of foliage and a relatively small floral display; = sufficient foliage and floral display to be attractive in the landscape; and = superior floral display and sufficient foliage display). s were made in whole number units. Flowering plants were rated primarily based on their floral displays. However, size, shape, and freedom from insect, disease, or other blemishes were also considered. As shown in Table 1, the weather during this trial period was warmer and drier than normal. PANSY PERFORMANCE Many pansy cultivars performed exceptionally well. Evaluations included three pink, 1 rose, 1 purple, 1 orange, 17 white, 17 mixed, red, yellow, and 8 blue cultivars. The top two cultivars in each color group and those cultivars with an average. rating or higher are listed in Table. The average rating shows the performance over the testing period. Peak rating shows the highest score for that cultivar. Peak dates indicate the evaluation times that the peak rating was achieved. All pansies reached their peak in March. Many cultivars earned a peak rating of. Two yellow cultivars, Springtime Yellow Marble (Clause) and Universal Plus Yellow Blotch (Goldsmith), tied for the top average rating of.1.

5 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station The four series of pansy cultivars that consistently performed well in all color categories were Universal, Imperial, Fama, and Delta. SNAPDRAGON PERFORMANCE Twenty cultivars of snapdragons were evaluated from December 199 through March 199 with an emphasis on floral display and interest contributed to the winter landscape. None of the entries performed spectacularly, although many performed respectably. Liberty Crimson was the best performer with a peak rating of.88 and an average rating of.16. Overall, the standard-height cultivars outperformed the dwarf cultivars with more flowers and less internal dieback. These plants were left "in bed" to become a part of the Summer Annual Trial Garden to evaluate their long-term contribution to the landscape. DIANTHUS PERFORMANCE Six cultivars of dianthus were evaluated between December 199 and March 199. Due to a shortage of cultivars to compare, studies focused on each cultivar's individual performance and acceptability in the landscape setting. All of the cultivars performed well. The best in this small trial for each color group was as follows: violet Floral Lace Violet Picotee; rose Floral Lace Rose; white - Princess White; and mixed - Telstar Mix. All these cultivars rated a or higher for a minimum of six weeks. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Pursell Industries of Sylacauga, Ala., donated controlled-release fertilizer for the evaluations in Several seed companies donated seed samples for the evaluations. David and Martha Wright of Wright's Nursery and Greenhouses, Inc., in Plantersville, Ala., produced all the seedlings for this experiment. Personnel at the E.V. Smith Research Center Horticulture Unit established and maintained the beds used in the Winter Trial Garden. Contributing seed companies included Clause Seed, Goldsmith Seed, Wright's Nursery and Greenhouse, Vaughn Seed, Pan American Seed, Benary Seed, Bodger Seed, and American Sluiss. TABLE 1. AVERAGE MONTHLY TEMPERATURE, PRECIPITATION, AND LIGHT LEVELS DURING TRIAL GARDEN EVALUATIONS AT E.V. SMITH RESEARCH CENTER Month Avg. temp. 1-yr. avg. temp. Avg. precip. -yr. avg. precip. Avg. light level OF OF in. in. watts/hr./m Nov , , ,7 Feb. Mar ,88,1

6 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results TABLE. PANSY CULTIVAR PERFORMANCE IN Cultivar (Source) Face Avg. rating Peak rating Peak date Yellow Springtime Yellow Marble (Clause) Universal Plus Yellow Blotch (Goldsmith) Crystal Bowl Yellow (Wright's) Delta Pure Primrose (Vaughn) Universal Plus Yellow (Goldsmith) Blue Bingo Blue with Blotch (Pan American) De Chalon (Clause) Fama Dark Eyed Blue (Benary) Fama True Blue (Benary) Happy Face Blue (Bodger) Imperial Silver Blue (Vaughn) Rally Deep Blue with Blotch (Pan American) Roc Blue with Light Flag (Sluiss) Roc Light Blue (Sluiss) Skyline Blue with White Flag (Sluiss) Universal Plus Beaconsfield (Goldsmith) Universal Plus True Blue (Goldsmith) White Happy Face White (Bodger) Delta White with Blotch (Vaughn) Rally Pure White (Pan American) Purple Atlas Purple (Bodger) Bingo Deep Purple (Pan American) Fama See Me(Benary) Imperial Purple and White (Vaughn) Majestic Giants Purple (Vaughn) Springtime Black (Clause) Universal Plus Violet Blotch (Goldsmith) Rose Bingo Light Rose (Pan American) Crystal Bowl Primrose (Wright's) Red Clear Sky Red (Sluiss) Delta Carmine with Blotch (Vaughn) Delta Pure Red (Vaughn) Majestic Giants Scarlet Br. Shad (Vaughn) Majestic Giants Red and Yellow (Vaughn) Maxim Red and Yellow (Vaughn) Universal Plus Red Wing (Goldsmith) Orange Fama Orange (Benary) Imperial Orange (Vaughn) Imperial Orange Prince (Vaughn) Rally Orange (Pan American) Mix All Sky Mix (Sluiss) Delta Pure Colors Mix (Sluiss) Fama Mix (Benary) Happy Face Mixture (Bodger) Medallion Mix (Clause) Universal Plus Mixture (Goldsmith) Pink Imperial Pink Shades (Vaughn) I 1\~~U /1, /7 /1, /7 /7 /7 /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /7 /7 /7 n.8. /1, /7 n.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1, /7 n.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1, /7 n.8. /7 n.8. /1, /7 n.8. /1,/7 y.8. /1,/7 n.8. /7 y.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1,/7 y.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1,/7 n.8. /1, /7 n.8. /1, /7 y.8. /1, /7 n.8. /1,/ y.. /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /1, /7 /7

7 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station RATINGS Plants were evaluated twice monthly from December 199 through March 199. They were rated each time be the same person using a 1- scale. Flowering plants were rated primarily on their floral display, but size, shape, and freedom from insect or disease blemishes were also considered. Kale was rated without consideration of flowering. RATING SYSTEM: = plant dies; 1 = small display of foliage with no flowers; = adequate foliage with no flowers or few buds showing; = adequate to large amount of folage and a relatively small floral display; = sufficient foliage and floral display to be attractive in the landscape; and = superior floral display and sufficient foliage display. s were made in whole number units. Display was defined by size and color of the leaves. Temperature, OF Maximum "' Oct. Nov. Ja n. Apr. Ia IIIII ' I SMinimum 1 1" Figure 1. Minimum and maximum air temperatures at the E.V.Smith Research Center during the Winter Trial.

8 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results ~ P~nati\ngn 1 L Experimental Denim Blue Crystal Bowl True Blue '... I I I I I I Delft f I a De Chalon Fama True Blue ( I I I I 1 Fama Silver Blue Imperial Silver Blue Universal IPlus Beaconsfield

9 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 7 Rain 1..~ Crystal Bowl Deep Blue [Roc Light Blue Rally True Blue Pans 1-1Imperial Beacon Delta True Blue F Springtime Blue 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar L ~ I Accord Clear Blue 1 Velour Blue Mini CI I AJ / ~I

10 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results Rain I~~AL R~ ating(i Universal Plus Light Blue 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 -, Crystal Bawl Sky Blue I 1 I1 1 1 I1 ' ~ rfama Dark Eyed Blu 1 Imperial Blue F Max akmyeib Rally Light Blue with Blotch Rally Deep Blue with Blotch I Al / Al 1L 19 ~ Maxim Deep Blue

11 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 9 'f Maxim Blue I f Happy Face Blue.i 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar Universal Plus Blue Blotch Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 1 Roc19lue Light Flag Pans 1-1Experimental Beaconsfield Bingo Blue with Blotch Majestic Giants Blue Shades

12 1 R Annual Winter Trial Garden Results Ratin I - 6..A Maxim Blue & Yellow L 1 -, Accord Blue Blotch ,- CI Skylne Bue ith hitefla 1 Delta Blue with Blotch lu Skylin Ble it Wit Fa Accord Mixture SWatercl olsmix i 1 ~I

13 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 11 Rain ~ - S Delta Pure Colors Mix _. L-j W - Universal Plus Clear Mixture K. I elta DlaFormula Mix ' L..-L S Universal Plus Mixture Si 1 Imperial Unique Mix il ~ Happy Face Mixture t /L I * 1Universal Plus Blotch Mixture

14 1 Rain Annual Winter Trial Garden Results Ratb~,bC;nn l~ nin Fama Mix ' Medallian Mix U H- Majestic Giants Mix [ I 1 IMaxim Mix 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 1 Imperial Orange Imperial Antique Shades 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 1 Rally Orange / ')I

15 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Rk~n Evninn Ratiilivl ~n 1 ating Universal Plus Orange 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar I I - I I - - '-- L._L.._ \j. Fama Orange sating 1 Crystal Bawl Orange L / 1 Delta Pure Orange Atlas Orange t- Roc Orange S Rally Orange with Blotch /L 1Universal Plus Orange Blotch

16 1 t Annual Winter Trial Garden Results Ratin - - il Imperial Orange Prince I I I I I I J. t- Maxim Orange CI I II I I I Imperial Pink Shades 1 O Maxim Chiffon ' I I I t Pans Cla Iin I I I I I Maxim Sherbet Clear Sky Purple Experimental Midnight Bingo Deep Purple I /L ~L /L

17 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station v F~itiv r ~ n~ir\n tstn Springtime Black ' L 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar : - Universal Purple L- Atlas Purple 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 Pa Rally Lillac Cap C I I K Happy Purple Face Imperial Purple & White Majestic Giants Purple Fama See Me I ')I / ')I

18 16 Rain Annual Winter Trial Garden Results ldb ~ n Hrr R aia Jally Joker '- 1-~- CL Universal Plus Violet Blatch 1 Crystal Bawl Scarlet 1 1 Clear Sky Red Skyline Red Universal Plus Red t- il Delta Pure Red 1 L. Alpine Summer I I I I

19 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station H ~u~ar+ iqicv (~ r~h 17 Skyline Red Wing 1l L. -. Fama Red Maxim Red 1 Bingo Red with Blotch Imperial Red ,-If Bingo Red & Yellow [ ~ Delta Carmine with h I ')L / ')L Maxim Red & Yellow

20 18 Ri Annual Winter Trial Garden Results RatIng Accord Red Blotch citing 1- Universal Plus Red Blotch C' ating 1 / L ~ Roc Red Majestic Giants Scarlet Bronze Shades il ~ ''Springtime Red Majestic Giants Red & Yellow ,1- o til C' I Happy Face Red / [ ~ Universal Plus Red Wing ' I

21 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station v 19 1' -... Crystal Bowl Rose Feb. Mar 7 ' I I I Crystal Bowl Primrose atingr Universal Plus Rose ' I I I I cting Accord Rose Blotch Dark Rose with Blotch F.. 1. _ Maxim Rose. r ~Cc -- L- ')I Universal Plus Rose Blotch

22 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results AR ~AAI ~AA I ~ 1 1- C' Roc Carmine-Rose Lm..j6- a Imperial Frosty Rose - [ 1 Universal Plus jivory/rose Blotch Happy Face Rose Accord Clear White 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 Rally Pure White 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 I ')L 1 Crystal Bowl White ')I 1 Delta Pure White

23 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station 1 ri~ L Ie~YY A+ ~~ IA IFYAIIIY r- r 'I 1 - Universal Plus White 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar. 7 ating I 1 Atlas White ' I I I sating ru Majestc Gians Whit I with Blotch 1 Maxim White f- U" i I I I I ' sating Z o~oo Accard White Blatch [ Rally Pure White with Blatch 1 - Fama Dark-Eyed White 'fil Fe.Roc White

24 AA Annual Winter Trial Garden ~ Results A II ~ A ~ I _-_ L --A Imperial Silver Princess I - Happy Face White Delta White with Blotch Pa Bingo White with Blatch Delta Pure Yellow Accard Clear Yellow Experimental Yellow I rrl / ~I 1 Delta Pure Primrase

25 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station Ilhrr ynvn p+ _~~n Ini~r~rn 'f- r- 1 Imperial Yellow Bingo Yellow '.. 1 L r r r r r r r r I- 1 Roc Golden Universal Plus Yellow 1 1 Feb. 7 1 Mar Rally Yellow i- Fama Golden Yellow ,, Crystal Bawl Yellow L J Fama Love Me

26 r I Annual Winter Trial Garden Results 1 - Rally Yellow with Blotch I ' ating 1-1 I I I '-I Happy Face Yellow 1 L ~ f I Bingo Yellow with Blotch Maxim Sunset Universal Plus Yellow/Red Blotch I V v

27 / Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station I rui IIlu~ vn~~ln ~~h I [ Snapdragon 1~ Liberty Lavender f Snapdragon Liberty Mixture Snapdragon Bells Mixture L _. 1 Snapdragon Chimes Mixture Snapdragon Royal Carpet Mix 1 Snapdragon Tahiti Mix F.. 1. Snapdragon Sonnet Mix ' 6.-A-.--..A

28 I Annual Winter Trial Garden Results t- '- Snapdragon Tahiti Appleblossom v 1 LSnapdragon Liberty Light Pink UI asting Snapdragon Sonnet Pink il Snapdragon Liberty Scarlet Snapdragon Liberty Cherry 1 Snapdragon Liberty Bronze , 1 Snapdragon Liberty Crimson C t- UI I I Inu r Feb. 1Snapdragon 191 Sonnet Bronze

29 Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station ~ 1 I I A 7 - Snapdragon Sonnet Orange Scarlet,t- Snapdragon Liberty White [ ( Snapdragon Liberty Yellow f II Il I - [ , Snapdragon Sonnet Yellow III T Plot plan for Annual Bedding Plant Evaluation at ENV. Smith Research Center

30 Annual Winter Trial Garden Results r. f- Dianthus Ideal Violet h IDianthus 1 Floral Lace Violet Picotee ' L,'Dianthus 19 Princess Purple Dianthus Floral Lace Rose 1 Dianthus Princess White IU I v I Feb.

31 v [ Kale I I I I I Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station f- - - Si- Kale 1 - Tokyo Mix Kale 1 - Osaka Mixed 1 ating ii-..kale 1 Nagoya Mixed I 1 f- I 1 L Kale Nagoya Rose I I I I 1 1 Feb. Kale Tokyo Pink Kale Osaka Pink : us S- U' ~ Osaka Red Jn e. Mar.

32 Alabama's Agricultural Experiment Station System AUBURN UNIVERSITY A rr 1 With an agricultural urn, research unit in every AR LANC ' na L rr major soil area, A Auburn Lnixersity MA serxes the necds of field crop, lixestock, forestry, and -ENS r nest S horticultural producers in each region in Alabama. Every citizen ot the A 6 8 state has a stake in LE this research program.1 j LEL since any advaniage trom ness and more B LAS BUL. 17 economical ways of producing and handling tarm products directly benefits the consuming public. P EBCAMEIAl 7 GENE ^ (18 19 Iesearchli nit Identification * Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. ' E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter. Tennessee Va ey Substation Bel e Mina Sard Mountain Substation, Crossvi le North Alabama Horticulture Substation, Cullman Upper Coasta Plain Substation, Winfield Forestry Unit Fayette County Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton Forestry Unit, Coosa County Piedmont Substation Camp H I Foresty Unt. Autauga County Prattville Experiment Field. Prattville Black Belt Substation. Marion Junct on The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place. Unior Springs Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden Forestty Unit, Barbour County Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville W regrass Substation Headland Brewton Euper ment Field, Brewton. Ornamenta Horticulture Substation, Spring Hill Gulf Coast Substat on, Fa rhope ARR YrXL r V 6//97 UJ,