SUBSTRATES EVALUATION OF SELECTED SOILLESS SUBSTRATES ON ROOTING OF BOUGAINVILLEA, AZALEA AND ROSE. A cooperative trial between Conrad Fafard Inc. and CfAHR Charlotte Vetter and Janet Rippy, Conrad Fafard Inc. and Lucia Villavicencio, Center for Applied Horticultural Research, Vista, CA. Objectives: o o o Determine rooting time of Bougainvillea, Azalea and Rose cuttings when planted in various propagation mixes. Determine the % survival of cuttings planted in the selected mixes Measure root mass of the selected species at the end of the propagation period. Materials and methods Host Plant Care: Cuttings of Bougainvillea x buttiana Orange King, Azalea indica Formosa and Rosa Cinco de Mayo were planted in 50-cell trays filled with the selected substrates and placed under commercial propagation conditions in the Altman Plants production area. Cuttings were treated with Dip N Grow at a dilution rate of 1:12. Pest and disease control was done following the commercial rotation established in the propagation area. Treatments: 1. Fafard propagation mix. 2. Pindstrup mix 3. Sun Gro 50/50 peat-perlite mix Experimental Design, Sampling and Data Analysis: Ten trays per treatment were available. Each tray was planted with 10 cuttings of each species for a total of 100 cuttings per species per treatment. A subsample of 1 plant per tray was taken at 6, 10 and 14 weeks after planting (WAP) to asses root initiation. Azalea cuttings did not start rooting until 10 WAP. A fresh and dry weight of shoots and roots was taken at each sampling time. Root quality and distribution was measured on a scale from 1 (no roots, dead roots) to 5 (healthy looking roots occupying the entire cell volume). Plug growth at each sampling time was determined as growth index based on measurements of height and diameter in two directions according to the formula GI=H+(D1+D2)/2)/2. Percent cutting survival was quantified at 10 and 14 weeks after planting. Results Results are summarized in tables 1 to 3. Plant appearance can be seen in figures 1 to 3. Effect of rooting substrates on Rosa Cinco de Mayo : Cuttings rooted in Pindstrup had higher growth index and root and shoot fresh and dry weights than those planted in Fafard and Sun Gro 50/50 mix. The best root distribution was seen in plants growing in Fafard mix and Pindstrup. Rooting substrate did not have an effect on root or shoot quality. The % plant mortality was lower in flats planted with Fafard and Pindstrup than in flats with Sun Gro 50/50. Effect of rooting substrates on Bougainvillea x buttiana Orange King : Six WAP cuttings planted in Pindstrup has higher growth index and shoot dry weight, however, at the end of this study all plants were similar and rooting substrate did not seem to affect any of the variables studied. 99
There was a very high mortality rate in all treatments in this trial. Even though there were no statistical differences between the mixes studied, mortality in the Pindstrup medium was lower (53.7%) than that of plants in Fafard mix (74.1%) and Sun Gro 50/50 mix (63.8%) Effect of rooting substrates on Azalea indica Formosa : Azalea cuttings root formation was seen 10 WAP, at which time cuttings planted in Fafard mix had better shoot quality than those planted in the other mixes. Fourteen WAP plants in Fafard mix had better shoot quality than plants in Pindstrup but plants in Pindstrup had higher root fresh and dry weight than that of plants in Fafard mix. Plants growing in Sun Gro 50/50 mix were bigger and more vigorous than plants growing in Fafard and Pindstrup substrates. Table 1. Mean growth Index (GI), Shoot and root fresh (SFW, RFW) and dry (SDW, RDW) weights, root distribution (RD) and shoot quality (SQ) of Bougainvillea Orange King and Rose Cinco de Mayo six weeks after planting. Species Treatment GI SFW SDW RFW RDW RD SQ Fafard mix 14.0 b 3.3 a 1.0 b 1.9 a 0.2 a 2.0 a 2.0 a Bougainvillea Perlite mix 15.6 ab 3.7 a 1.1 b 1.6 a 0.2 a 1.8 a 1.6 a Pindstrup 17.7 a 4.9 a 1.6 a 1.2 a 0.2 a 1.8 a 1.8 a P-Value 0.03 0.07 0.02 0.37 0.77 0.82 0.32 Fafard mix 16.6 a 3.1 a 1.1 a 2.3 a 0.3 a 2.1 b 2.1 a Rose Perlite mix 15.7 a 3.0 a 1.0 a 2.2 a 0.3 a 2.2 b 1.8 a Pindstrup 18.2 a 3.7 a 1.3 a 1.9 a 0.3 a 3.1 a 2.1 a P-Value 0.17 0.29 0.16 0.46 0.30 0.01 0.12 100
Table 2. Mean growth Index (GI), Shoot and root fresh (SFW, RFW) and dry (SDW, RDW) weights, root distribution (RD), shoot quality (SQ), % mortality and % of vigorous plants of Bougainvillea Orange King, Rose Cinco de Mayo and Azalea Formosa ten weeks after planting. Species Treatment GI SFW SDW RFW RDW RD SQ % Mort. % Vig. Fafard mix 14.7 a 7.0 a 2.3 a 3.1 a 0.6 a 2.0 a 4.1 a 1 a 99 a Azalea Perlite mix 16.4 a 6.9 a 2.0 a 3.1 a 0.5 a 2.8 a 3.3 b 1 a 99 a Pindstrup 16.5 a 5.6 a 1.8 a 1.8 a 0.3 a 3.0 a 3.4 b 0 a 100 a P-Value 0.060 0.155 0.218 0.158 0.121 0.187 0.017 0.612 0.612 Fafard mix 14.8 a 3.2 a 1.0 a 1.8 a 0.3 a 3.4 a 2.2 a 51.4 a 38.4 a Bougainvillea Perlite mix 14.7 a 3.8 a 1.1 a 2.1 a 0.3 a 2.6 a 2.4 a 44.2 a 51.4 a Pindstrup 17.4 a 4.4 a 1.3 a 1.5 a 0.2 a 2.5 a 2.1 a 36 a 59 a P-Value 0.085 0.457 0.438 0.483 0.547 0.113 0.911 0.210 0.079 Fafard mix 13.9 a 2.4 a 1.0 a 1.9 a 0.4 a 2.2 a 2.9 a 16.1 a 83.9 a Rose Perlite mix 12.5 a 2.3 a 1.0 a 1.9 a 0.4 a 2.9 a 2.9 a 17 a 81 a Pindstrup 15.0 a 3.2 a 1.3 a 2.7 a 0.5 a 3.2 a 2.9 a 11 a 89 a P-Value 0.210 0.114 0.187 0.107 0.573 0.060 0.992 0.763 0.658 Table 3. Mean growth Index (GI), Shoot and root fresh (SFW, RFW) and dry (SDW, RDW) weights, root distribution (RD), root quality (RQ), shoot quality (SQ), % mortality and % of vigorous plants of Bougainvillea Orange King, Rose Cinco de Mayo and Azalea Formosa fourteen weeks after planting. Species Treatment GI SFW SDW RFW RDW RD RQ SQ Fafard mix 13.7 b 5.7 a 1.8 a 3.6 b 0.6 b 2.8 a 3.2 a 4.3 a 0 a 74.4 b Azalea Perlite mix 15.6 a 6.8 a 1.9 a 5.5 ab 0.8 ab 3.9 a 3.6 a 4.889 ab 0 a 100 a Pindstrup 13.4 b 7.1 a 2.1 a 7.3 a 0.9 a 2.9 a 3.7 a 3.7 b 0 a 90 ab P-Value 0.050 0.084 0.234 0.010 0.045 0.080 0.692 0.036 0.029 Fafard mix 14.7 a 2.4 a 0.6 a 1.3 a 0.3 a 2.4 a 2.7 a 2.8 a 74.1 a 8 a Bougainvillea Perlite mix 17.7 a 3.3 a 0.8 a 2.5 a 0.4 a 3.0 a 4.0 a 3.444 a 63.8 a 14.9 a Pindstrup 17.7 a 3.7 a 1.1 a 2.7 a 0.4 a 2.8 a 3.2 a 2.8 a 53.7 a 18.4 a P-Value 0.331 0.342 0.152 0.069 0.615 0.492 0.100 0.473 0.142 0.347 Fafard mix 17.4 b 2.5 b 0.8 ab 1.7 b 0.4 b 3.7 a 3.6 a 4.3 a 3.5 b 71.8 a Rose Perlite mix 19.7 b 2.6 b 0.7 b 1.9 b 0.4 b 3.0 b 3.8 a 4.2 a 24.1 a 55.3 a Pindstrup 24.8 a 3.6 a 0.9 a 4.5 a 0.7 a 4.2 a 4.5 a 4.7 a 8.6 ab 69.2 a P-Value 0.0001 0.004 0.002 0.0001 0.0003 0.002 0.070 0.398 0.034 0.472 % Mort. % Vig. 101
Figure 1. Plant appearance in flats planted with different propagation substrates A. Fafard B. Sun Gro 50/50 C. Pindstrup 102
Figure 2. Bougainvillea Orange King, Rose Cinco de Mayo and Azalea Formosa plant appearance when grown in Fafard (top), Sun Gro 50/50 (center) and Pindstrup (bottom) propagation substrates. A. Bougainvillea Orange King B. Rose Cinco de Mayo C. Azalea Formosa 103
Conclusions The results of this trial varied among cultivars indicating that some mixes might be better suited for promoting optimal rooting of one species than others. Bougainvillea plants were hard to establish and the type of rooting substrate did not improve the growth, quality, vigor or mortality of this species. It is possible that the conditions in the propagation area might not have been optimal for this species. Rose Cinco de Mayo had the lowest % mortality and more vigorous plants when planted on Fafard or Pindstrup mix. Plants in Pindstrup were bigger than plants in the rest of the mixes. Azalea Formosa grew relatively well in all mixes, however, flats of Sun Gro 50/50 mix had bigger plants that the rest of the flats and the highest number of vigorous plants 1. 1 The information in this report is not presented as recommendations, but rather as research-based knowledge intended to help clientele make informed decisions. Neither the authors nor the Center for Applied Horticultural Research assume liability for product-related information or product use. Pesticide applicators are responsible for reading and following all directions on the product label; the label is the law. Because state and local regulations vary and change over time, it is the responsibility of the applicator to verify the registration status of any pesticide and to insure that the material is cleared for the intended use prior to application. It is unlawful to use any pesticide in any manner other than the registered use. The use of company or commercial product trade names is for the benefit of the reader and does not indicate or imply endorsement, nor does it indicate discrimination against comparable materials that are not mentioned. 104
POLYMERS IN FINISHED PRODUCTION TRIALS A cooperative trial between Conrad Fafard Inc. and CfAHR Ongoing Research Summary Charlotte Vetter and Janet Rippy, Conrad Fafard Inc. and Lucia Villavicencio, Center for Applied Horticultural Research, Vista, CA. Objective: Evaluate the effects of polymers on irrigation frequency, water use, growth and quality of water-loving and drought-tolerant plants. Plant Species: Drought tolerant Penstemon sp., Teucrium sp. Water-loving Colocasia sp., Petunia x hybrida Container Size: 6 pots Base Substrate: Fafard s 3B Manitoba peat, Sunshine # 2 (water-loving) and SunGro 40% perlite-60% peat (drought tolerant). Host Plant Care: Rooted cuttings of the selected plant species will be planted with a standard rate of Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 (5-6mo.) in 6 pots filled with the mixes. Trial will be conducted under drip irrigation in the CfAHR outdoor area. Pest and/or disease control will be applied as needed. Treatments: 1. Grower Mix 2. Sunshine #2 3. SunGro 60:40 4. 3B-M 5. 3B-M + 2#/cu.yd. Stockosorb Std. 6. 3B-M + 4#/cu.yd. Stockosorb Std. 7. 3B-M + 2#/cu.yd. Stockosorb 660 8. 3B-M + 4#/cu.yd. Stockosorb 660 Data Collection: 1. Ht - Height (cm): Tray rim to the highest vegetative plant part. 2. Dia - Diameter (cm): Measured from the widest part then turned 90 degrees. 3. PQ - Plant quality (tone/appearance/uniformity in liner) (1 to 5 scale, 1 = poor, 5 = excellent) 4. RP - Root performance (1 to 5 scale, 1 = no roots, dead roots, 5 = healthy looking roots occupying the entire cell volume) 5. Number of flowers when applicable Experimental Design: Trial was arranged in a randomized complete block design with 6 replicates per treatment per species. Experimental Notes: Measurements of height and diameter in two directions were expressed as a growth index according to the formula GI=H+ (D1+D2)/2)/2. Water was applied when needed based on plant appearance and the amount applied measured based on the discharge of the emitter and the period of application. Current status: Data collection phase has concluded and data is being analyzed. 105