UK Nursery nd Lndscpe Progrm Fculty, Stff, nd Student Coopertors About Our Cover Aster oblongifoli vr. ngusttus Rydon s Fvorite is one of the Theodore Klein Plnt Awrd Winners for 2003. Theodore Klein Plnt Awrd Winners re selected by plnt professionls for unique ornmentl chrcteristics nd the bility to successfully perform in Kentucky. Aster oblongifoli, romtic ster, is ntive to Kentucky. Living up to its common nme, the folige, when brushed in pssing, releses nice hint of mint frgrnce (Alln Armitge). Rydon s Fvorite ster is dependble herbceous perennil tht provides wonderful fll flower show. The simple ry flowers re blue-purple. The best seson of flowering is September through October. Allen Bush received piece of the plnt from Rydon Alexnder of Sn Antonio, Texs, with note stting this ster ws Rydon s fvorite. Mr. Alexnder hd the plnt keyed out with the result tht it ws believed to be originlly from Lookout Mountin, Tennessee. The sters seen in October by the side of the rod in Centrl Kentucky re Aster oblongifoli. This 3-foot tll by 2-foot to 3-foot wide mounding ster hs done very well in Kentucky in vriety of lndscpe sites. Its hrdiness zones re 5 to 9. It cn be propgted by division in the spring or fll or cuttings tken in erly summer. Horticulture Fculty Robert Anderson Shron Ble Pul Cppiello Winston Dunwell Richrd Durhm Willim Fountin R. Terry Jones Robert Geneve Dewyne Ingrm Robert McNiel Mrk Willims Technicl/ Professionl Stff Shri Dutton Amy Fulcher June Johnston Shron Kester Kirk Rnt Mort Turner Dwight Wolfe Frm Stff Drrell Slone Phillip Bush Dve Lowry Jnet Pfeiffer Students Steve Berberich Mnjul Dutt Steve Elkins Agriculturl Economics Fculty Tim Woods Biosystems nd Agriculturl Engineering Fculty Richrd Gtes Richrd Wrner Agronomy Fculty Tim Phillips A. J. Powell Entomology Fculty Dniel Potter Technicl Stff Dvid Held Students Jmee Hubbrd Cllie Preter Michel Rogers Plnt Pthology Fculty John Hrtmn Lis Villncourt Technicl Stff Pul A. Bchi Julie Bele Students Cludi Cotton Jennifer Flowers Mrie Schir UK Arboretum Mrci Frris (Director) Susn Cpley (Grounds Mnger) This is progress report nd my not reflect exctly the finl outcome of ongoing projects. Therefore, plese do not reproduce project reports for distribution without permission of the uthors. Mention or disply of trdemrk, proprietry product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute n endorsement nd does not imply pprovl to the exclusion of other suitble products or firms.
Contents UK Nursery nd Lndscpe Progrm Overview 2002... 5 Production nd Economics Aesculus prviflor Propgtion by Lyering... 7 Pruning Influence on Shoot Development with Continer-Grown Aesculus prviflor... 8 Use of Computer Imging to Evlute the Initil Stges of Germintion in Woody Tree Seeds... 9 Evlution of Culturl Prctices for Continer Production of Pssion Flowers...12 Use of Pelletized Poultry Litter s Continer Substrte...14 Pest Mngement Insects Influence of Rose Frgrnce nd Color on Host Loction by the Jpnese Beetle...16 Comptibility of the Insecticide Imidcloprid with the Nturl Enemy of Jpnese Beetle Grubs, Tiphi vernlis...17 Biology nd Mngement of Clico Scle, Severe Pest of Trees in Kentucky Lndscpes...19 Diseses Lndscpe Plnt Disese Observtions from the Plnt Disese Dignostic Lbortory 2002...22 A Nested-PCR Protocol to Determine If Spheropsis spine Is Present in Asymptomtic Pinus Nigr Tissue...23 Injections with Fungicides for Mngement of Pine Tip Blight A Four-Yer Study...24 Hckberry, Scrlet Ok, nd Mulberry New Kentucky Hosts of Bcteril Lef Scorch Cused by Xylell fstidios...27 Blck Knot Incidence in West Kentucky Nurseries...28 Plnt Evlution Evlution of Tropicl Folige nd Flowering Plnts s Annul Ground Covers t the UK Arboretum...30 Rudbecki Tx Evlution... 31 Vse Life Study of Hydrnge pnicult Flowers: Results from Quicksnd Trils... 32 Why Don t My Hydrnges Bloom?... 33 All Americ Selections Winners... 34 Perennil Grden Flower Trils t the UK Horticulture Reserch Frm 2002... 35 Updte of Industry Support for the University of Kentucky Nursery nd Lndscpe Progrm...38 UK Nursery nd Lndscpe Fund nd Endowment Fellows...39 2002 Contributors to the UK Nursery/Lndscpe Fund nd Endowments...39
UK Nursery nd Lndscpe Progrm Overview 2002 Dewyne Ingrm, Chir Deprtment of Horticulture The fculty, stff, nd students in the UK Nursery nd Lndscpe Progrm re plesed to offer this 2002 Reserch Report. This is one wy we shre informtion generted from coordinted reserch progrm involving tems of fculty, stff, nd students from severl deprtments in the College of Agriculture. The report hs been orgnized ccording to our primry res of emphsis: production nd economics, pest mngement, nd plnt evlution. These res reflect stted industry needs, expertise vilble t UK, nd the nture of reserch projects round the world generting informtion pplicble to Kentucky. If you hve questions or suggestions bout prticulr reserch project, plese do not hesitte to contct us. Although the purpose of this publiction is to report reserch results, we hve lso highlighted below some of our Extension progrms nd undergrdute nd grdute degree progrms tht re ddressing the needs of the nursery/lndscpe industries. Extension Highlights Our sttewide nd re eductionl conferences nd seminrs re probbly the most visible ctivities of our Extension progrms trgeted to Kentucky s nursery nd lndscpe industry. Publictions, videos, slide sets, newsletters, rticles in stte nd ntionl industry mgzines, newspper rticles, rdio spots, nd television progrms re lso importnt, visible elements of our Extension progrm. However, we re lso engged in wide rnge of less visible but vitl ctivities. More subtle ctivities include trining for County Extension Agents so they cn more effectively serve our clientele, the Plnt Disese Dignostic Clinic, soil testing nd interprettive services, nd dignosis nd problem-solving services. We were delighted to see tht the outrech cpcity of the rboretum on the UK cmpus incresed significntly this yer with the opening of the new visitors center. Although there re mny fcets to the Extension progrm conducted by the tem of subject-mtter specilists nd county gents, progrm expnsion provided through Kentucky Horticulture Council grnt from the Agriculture Development Bord (tobcco settlement) funds is highlighted this yer. Although most of the initil grnt hs been utilized to support expnded crege of vegetbles required by the three new mrketing coopertives, we were ble to obtin n Extension Associte position for Nursery Crops in the western portion of the stte. Amy Fulcher, who ws County Extension Agent for Horticulture in Hopkins County, hs been hired in the position. Amy is Western Kentucky University grdute nd received n M.S. degree from North Crolin Stte University in nursery crop production. Amy is working in concert with Dr. Dunwell to provide dditionl support of the county gents nd nursery mngers nd employees in the re. They hve held severl workshops nd demonstrtions nd hve estblished demonstrtion pot-in-pot system t the UK Reserch nd Eduction Center in Princeton. We re grteful for the dditionl funds to help us serve the nursery industry. The Kentucky Horticulture Council will be submitting second proposl to the Agriculturl Development Bord for continution of projects initited this yer nd to enhnce our bility to support the nursery nd greenhouse industries. Undergrdute Progrm Highlights The deprtment offers res of emphsis in Horticulturl Enterprise Mngement nd Horticulturl Science within Plnt nd Soil Science Bchelor of Science degree. Following re few highlights of our undergrdute progrm in 2002: The Plnt nd Soil Science degree progrm hs over 120 students in the fll semester of 2002, of which lmost one hlf re horticulture students nd nother one-third re turfgrss students. Eleven horticulture students grduted in 2002. We believe tht significnt portion of n undergrdute eduction in horticulture must come outside the clssroom. In ddition to the locl ctivities of the Horticulture Club nd field trips during course lbortories, students hve excellent off-cmpus lerning experiences. Here re the highlights of such opportunities in 2002. A 18-dy study tour of Belgium, Frnce, Germny, Gret Britin, nd the Netherlnds ws led by Drs. McNiel nd Dunwell involving 14 students. A one-week study tour of the nursery industry in Wshington nd Oregon ws led by Drs. McNiel, Dunwell, nd Geneve, involving 10 students. Horticulture students competed in the 2002 Associted Lndscpe Contrctors of Americ (ALCA) Creer Dy competition t Illinois Centrl College in Mrch (Drs. Robert McNiel nd Mrk Willims, fculty dvisors). Students ccompnied fculty to regionl/ntionl/interntionl meetings, including the Americn Society for Horticulturl Science Annul Conference, the Kentucky Lndscpe Industries Conference nd Trde Show, the Southern Nursery Assocition Trde Show, the Green Industry Conference, nd the Interntionl Horticulturl Congress in Toronto. Grdute Progrm Highlights The demnd for grdutes with M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Horticulture, Entomology, Plnt Pthology, Agriculturl Economics, nd Agriculturl Engineering is high. Our M.S. grdutes re being employed in the industry, Coopertive 5
Extension Service, secondry nd postsecondry eduction, nd governmentl gencies. Lst yer, there were nine grdute students in these degree progrms conducting reserch directly relted to the Kentucky nursery nd lndscpe industry. Grdute students re ctive prticipnts in the UK Nursery nd Lndscpe reserch progrm nd contribute significntly to our bility to ddress problems nd opportunities importnt to the Kentucky nursery nd lndscpe industry. For exmple, grdute students presented reserch results t the Southern Nursery Assocition s Reserch Conference in Atlnt nd the Interntionl Horticulture Congress in Toronto, nd severl will present their work during session of the 2003 Kentucky Lndscpe Industry Conference nd Trde Show. The Robert E. McNiel Endowment In the erly 80s, the Horticulture Deprtment relized tht mny of our grdutes lcked exposure to the rnge of horticulture prctices outside Ken tucky. The fculty mde commitment to provide t lest one study tour opportunity per yer to our students. Fulfillment of tht commitment hs primrily been through Dr. McNiel, who hs often covered his trvel expenses personlly. He hs led eductionl tours of industries nd grdens throughout Kentucky, the United Sttes, Europe, New Zelnd, nd Chin. Dr. McNiel hs been locl, regionl, nd ntionl leder for the Associted Lndscpe Contrctors of Americ. He hs ssisted in their Student Creer Dys nd hs hosted this ntionl event severl times. The Robert E. McNiel Horticulture Enrichment Fund is being endowed to honor Dr. McNiel nd to provide support for fculty nd student trvel on our study tours. Dr. McNiel will be retiring within the next five yers, nd this is our opportunity to support future students wishing to prticipte in eductionl tours nd ctivities. These study tours llow students to compre technology development t leding horticulturl sites nd reserch centers with ppliction to horticulture in Kentucky nd to determine the pplicbility of this technology to the Kentucky horticulturl industries. We re tking dvntge of unique opportunity through Kentucky s Reserch Chllenge Trust Fund (RCTF). Any gift to this fund, or pledge mde for pyment over five-yer period, will be mtched on dollr-for-dollr bsis. However, in order to be eligible for the mtch, we must hve minimum of $50,000 in gifts nd/or pledges. As result of UK s hosting of the Associted Lndscpe Contrctors of Americ (ALCA) Student Creer Dys in 1999, there is blnce of $25,000, which ALCA hs endorsed using for this effort. Therefore, we must rise $25,000 to mtch the $25,000 we lredy hve in order to gin the RCTF mtch to crete permnent endowment of $100,000. Reching the $50,000 level is crucil, or we lose the $50,000 RCTF mtch. We need your help. Plese consider the opportunity to provide lsting support of our students nd their eduction. Additionl informtion is vilble by contcting me in the Horticulture Deprtment (257-1601) or by clling the College of Agriculture Development Office (859-257-7200). 6
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Aesculus prviflor Propgtion by Lyering Robert E. McNiel nd Steve Elkins, Deprtment of Horticulture Nture of Work Aesculus prviflor (bottlebrush buckeye) hs mde mny recommended lists during recent times. However, few plnts re vilble on regulr bsis in the nursery trde. Seed ws the min method of propgtion until the 1990s when Bir nd Brnes (2) estblished protocol for cutting propgtion. Fordhm (4), in his discussion of propgtion of bottlebrush buckeye, devoted his explntion to seed, except for finl comment tht root cuttings nd root suckers cn be source. Seed vilbility, timing, or fcilities my still limit this plnt from being propgted in significnt numbers by either seed or cuttings. Lyering hs been recommended s form of propgtion for plnts forming suckers by severl uthors during the 1900s (1,8). While ddressing lyering in one form or nother, neither Mhlstede nd Hber (7), Mcdonld (6), Dirr nd Heuser (3), nor Hrtmn et l. (5) define lyering s technique for bottlebrush buckeye. Biley (1) ddresses the benefits of wounding during the lyering process. As mens of producing lrge numbers of bottlebrush buckeye with limited fcilities nd less dependence upon timing, we looked t mound lyering. Aesculus prviflor were plnted on the University of Kentucky Horticulture Reserch Frm during the erly 1990s in north/ south rows. During 1998 the plnts were bush-hogged to the ground. Multi-stem regrowth occurred during 1999 nd 2000. In August 2000 reserch ws initited in order to determine if rpid propgtion could occur by mound lyering Aesculus prviflor. Swdust ws row mounded 18 inches deep nd 3 feet wide round 41 plnts. Strting in August 2000, three stems on 10 rndomly selected plnts were treted on monthly bsis. Tretments included cutting into non-rooting one- or two-yer old stems ner the bse, treting with No. 3 Hormex, nd keeping the stem gpped with section of toothpick. A drip irrigtion system ws instlled in the plot nd scheduled to run 20 minutes twice dy t 9:00.m. nd 2:00 p.m. One-GPH emitters were spced every 2 feet long 2-inch dimeter lines. Irrigtion ws turned off during the dormnt months. Results nd Discussion During Mrch 2001, plnts treted ech of the previous months were evluted for rooting. Plnts treted August 2000 hd roots formed t the wound site on 29 of 30 stems. Plnts treted September 2000 hd roots formed t the wound site on eight of 30 stems. No roots were found on stems treted during October through Februry. During November 2001, plnts were gin evluted for rooting. Rooting hd occurred on ll plnts treted through My 2001 (Tble 1). The tendency ws for more stems rooting (99%) for months (Aug., Sept., April, My) when tretments were on plnts tht were in ctive growth thn when treted plnts (84%) were in their dormnt period (Oct. through Mrch). A plnt ws left untreted, nd during Mrch 2001 three plnts were completely pruned bck to within 3 inches of the ground for comprison to the treted plnts. At the November 2001 hrvest time, the unpruned plnt hd 14 stems tht were rooted, nd the three pruned plnts generted totl of 68 rooted stems on current seson growth. No other wounding or hormone tretment occurred on these four plnts. Stems on these plnts rooted with the swdust tretment of mound lyering nd irrigtion. The other 37 originl plnts were lso producing new stems during 2001. Between untreted old growth stems nd new growth stems, n dditionl 617 rooted stems were removed from these 37 plnts; n verge of 16.7 rooted stems per plnt. Rooted stems hd either new corse or fine roots. Corse roots were most common, nd it ws suspected tht stems with fine roots might not survive. This ws not trcked s to root type, but survivl of rooted stems s liners ws recorded. Rooted stems were plced in 3-qurt continers nd overwintered in n unheted Quonset house. Eightythree percent of the stems from treted plnts lefed out nd developed into the liner stge (Tble 1). Ninety-three percent of the stems from untreted plnts lefed out nd developed into the liner stge. Tble 1. Stems rooted nd successfully estblished s liner during month-by-month tretment. Survivl in the Liner Stge Rooted Month Stems August, 00 30 28 September, 00 30 25 October, 00 25 22 November, 00 26 19 December, 00 25 19 Jnury, 01 27 16 Februry, 01 25 23 Mrch, 01 23 21 April, 01 30 27 My, 01 29 24 Significnce to Industry Rpid propgtion of Aesculus prviflor through mound lyering is very fesible. Mound lyering without wounding nd hormone tretment will generte rooted shoots. Stems tht do not root under norml mound lyering techniques will benefit from wounding nd hormone tretment. 7
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Literture Cited 1. Biley, L. H. 1920. The Nursery Mnul. Mcmilln Pub., New York. 2. Bir, R. E., nd H. W. Brnes. 1994. Stem cutting propgtion of bottlebrush buckeye. Comb. Proc. Intl. Plnt Prop. Soc. 44: 499-502. 3. Dirr, M. A. nd C. W. Heuser Jr. 1987. The reference mnul of woody plnt propgtion: From seed to tissue culture. Vrsity Press, Athens, Georgi. 4. Fordhm, A. J. 1987. Bottle brush buckeye (Aesculus prviflor) nd its propgtion. Comb. Proc. Intl. Plnt Prop. Soc. 37: 345-347. 5. Hrtmnn, H. T., D. E. Kester, F. T. Dvies Jr., nd R. L. Geneve. 1998. Plnt propgtion principles nd prctices, 6th ed. Prentice Hll, New Jersey. 6. Mcdonld, B. 1986. Prcticl woody plnt propgtion for nursery growers. Timber Press, Portlnd, Oregon. 7. Mhlstede, J. P., nd E. S. Hber. 1957. Plnt propgtion. Wiley & Sons, New York. 8. Wells, J. S. 1985. Plnt propgtion prctices. Amer. Nurserymn Pub., Chicgo. Pruning Influence on Shoot Development with Continer-Grown Aesculus prviflor Robert E. McNiel nd Kirk Rnt, Deprtment of Horticulture Nture of Work Aesculus prviflor (bottlebrush buckeye) hs been wrded elite sttus by being nmed to severl outstnding-plnt lists or to stte plnt-recognition progrms. Individul plnts displyed in retil settings hve not lwys hd comprble sles ppel. Insted of irregulr or tll lnky growth, it ws thought tht lower brnched nd more uniform plnts would be more cceptble by the buying public. Reserch ws estblished to evlute stem number, plcement, nd length s influenced by pruning plnts during production. Seeds were collected from Aesculus prviflor nd plnted on the University of Kentucky Horticulture Reserch Frm during the fll of 2000. The resulting seedlings (6 to 30 inches tll) were hrvested in November 2001 nd individully plced in 3-qurt continers. Plnts were overwintered in 13 x 48-foot unheted Quonset house covered with opque poly. During Februry 2002, 130 plnts were divided into three groups of 40+ plnts. Three tretments consisted of unpruned stems, stems cut bck to within 2 inches of the substrte line, nd stems cut bck to within 6 inches of the substrte line. Dt were nlyzed by nlysis of vrince using the Generl Liner Models Procedure (SAS). Results nd Discussion During June 2002, dt were collected s new stem counts originting from two positions on the remining plnt: originting bove substrte line or from the bse or below the substrte line. The verge number of shoots per plnt ws determined by verging the count from two positions on the plnt (bove nd below the substrte line) (Tble 1). Unpruned plnts showed picl dominnce within the popultion. This resulted in the fewest shoots per plnt (0.81) s mny terminl buds continued to elongte without producing mny dditionl shoots either bove or below the substrte line. Pruning encourged dditionl bud brek, whether pruned t 2 or 6 inches. Plnts pruned t 6 inches hd more of the stem remining nd thus hd more buds. This yielded more totl shoots (1.97) thn plnts pruned t 2 inches (1.58) (Tble 1). Plnts pruned t 2 inches produced more shoots below the substrte line (1.90) thn bove the substrte line (1.26) (Tble 3). Plnts pruned t 6 inches produced more shoots from bove the substrte line (2.47) thn below the substrte line (1.47) (Tble 4). For shoots tht were produced, pruning did not influence verge new shoot length (Tble 1). Averge new shoot length (in.) on unpruned plnts did not differ from lengths on plnts pruned t 2 or 6 inches (Tble 1). Averge totl shoot length did present differences mong tretments. On unpruned plnts, verge totl shoot growth from below the substrte line (13.00) exceeded shoot growth originting bove the substrte line Tble 1. Averge totl number of shoots per plnt (including bove nd below the substrte counts) nd verge length of those shoots for three pruning tretments on Aesculus prviflor. Averge Length of Shoots z (in.) Number of Pruning Tretment Shoots y Unpruned 0.81 C 5.17 A Pruned t 2 inches 1.58 B 5.93 A Pruned t 6 inches 1.97 A 6.20 A y Mens with the sme letter for ech vrible re similr t p 0.01; n = 260. z Mens with the sme letter for ech vrible re similr t p 0.01; n = 182. Tble 2. Totl number of shoots nd verge totl shoot length produced t two positions on plnts tht were not pruned. z Position Number of Shoots Averge Totl Shoot Length (in.) Above substrte 1.30 A 4.67 B Below substrte 0.32 B 13.00 A z Mens in the sme column with the sme letter for ech vrible re similr t p 0.01; n = 182. 8
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS (4.67) (Tble 2). For plnts pruned t 2 inches, no difference occurred for shoot growth for the below (14.75) nd bove (12.37) substrte positions (Tble 3). For plnts pruned t 6 inches, verge totl shoot length bove substrte level (15.28) ws sttisticlly different from verge totl shoot length below substrte level (12.73) (Tble 4). Plnts tht were pruned did not produce flower buds, regrdless of pruning height (dt not shown). Unpruned plnts did occsionlly produce flower buds. Significnce to Industry Plnt brnch height, compctness, nd uniformity cn be influenced by pruning Aesculus prviflor during continer production prctices. Pruning t 2 or 6 inches bove the substrte line incresed brnching nd improved the qulity of the plnt versus those unpruned. Pruning t 2 inches bove the substrte line incresed the number of stems rising from the bse versus pruning t 6 inches. This should benefit the ppernce of plnts mrketed in 3- or 4-qurt continer sizes. Work is continuing to see if either of these pruning heights will influence plnt qulity when it is moved to 3-gllon or lrger production sizes. By chieving better qulity in plnt ppernce through more stem development nd lower brnching, Aesculus prviflor my hve better sles ppel t the retil level. Tble 3. Totl number of shoots nd verge totl shoot length produced t two positions on plnts tht were pruned t 2 inches. z Position Number of Shoots Averge Totl Shoot Length (in.) Above substrte 1.26 B 12.37 A Below substrte 1.90 A 14.75 A z Mens in the sme column with the sme letter for ech vrible re similr t p 0.01; n = 182. Tble 4. Totl number of shoots nd verge totl shoot length produced t two positions on plnts tht were pruned t 6 inches. z Averge Totl Shoot Length (in.) Number of Position Shoots Above substrte 2.47 A 15.28 A Below substrte 1.47 B 12.73 B z Mens in the sme column with the sme letter for ech vrible re similr t p 0.01; n = 182. Acknowledgment Sttisticl nlysis ws completed with the ssistnce of Dr. John Snyder, Deprtment of Horticulture, University of Kentucky. Use of Computer Imging to Evlute the Initil Stges of Germintion in Woody Tree Seeds Mnjul Dutt nd Robert L. Geneve, Deprtment of Horticulture Nture of Work Seed germintion begins with the initition of wter uptke by the dry seed nd ends with the protrusion of the rdicle from the fully imbibed seed. Mesurement of initil wter uptke is usully by mesuring fresh weight gin, which is lborious nd requires physicl hndling of ech seed. Such techniques require pooling of seeds to mke different smples to estimte verge vlues nd submit to sttisticl nlysis. These methods do not record growth performnce nd vrition on n individul seed bsis. Dell Aquill et l. (2) nd McCormc nd Keefe (8) hve described imge nlysis systems to monitor the imbibition in cbbge nd culiflower seeds. Such techniques, though useful, require the setup of sophisticted nd expensive equipment. The computer imging system developed by Geneve nd Kester (4) uses simple Petri dish germintion system tht is inexpensive nd menble to utomted cpture of sequentil digitl imges in rel time. In this study, the techniques developed by Geneve nd Kester (4) were used to evlute seed dormncy relese in two woody legume species with different dormncy types. Honeylocust (Gleditsi tricnthos L.) seeds hve physicl dormncy nd require scrifiction to llow imbibition. The objective ws to show how this computer-ided system could document initil wter uptke in seeds following physicl or cid scrifiction. Estern redbud (Cercis cndensis L.) seeds hve physiologicl dormncy nd require chilling strtifiction(6). In this cse, rdicle growth in excised embryos is n indictor of relese from dormncy following chilling. Therefore, rdicle length ws mesured on n hourly bsis in nonchilled nd chilled seeds to determine specific growth rtes. Seeds of honeylocust were cid scrified for 30 or 60 minutes in concentrted H 2 SO 4 or physiclly scrified by nicking the center of the seed using file. Seeds of redbud were treted with concentrted H 2 SO 4 for 30 minutes nd strtified t 4 C for four weeks. Non-strtified seeds were cid scrified but did not receive chilling. After four weeks, embryos were surgiclly removed from redbud seeds. Two honeylocust seeds or four redbud embryos were plced in 6-cm-dimeter plstic Petri dishes contining one piece of trnsprent cellulose film (Celorey-PUT, Cyds Monterrey, Mexico). Honeylocust seeds were surfce sterilized in 10% Clorox solution for 10 minutes nd wshed in distilled wter before being plced in Petri dish contining 2 ml of distilled wter. Petri dishes were seled with Prfilm nd plced on flt-bed scnner (HP Scnjet 9
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS 5370 C with trnsprency dpter). The scnner ws controlled using SigmScn Pro 5.0 for Windows (SPPC Science, Chicgo, Ill.) mcro written in Visul Bsic tht llowed for timed intervl scns. For this experiment, scns were tken t hourly intervls. Gry-scle imges (stored s 200 dpi, TIFF files) were nlyzed using nother SigmScn mcro tht llowed for btch processing of the vrious imges in short period of time. Dt were recorded for percentge increse in seed size until rdicle emergence for honeylocust nd rdicle length (mm) for three dys in excised redbud embryos. Results nd Discussion Seeds treted with concentrted H 2 SO 4 for 60 minutes hd fster imbibition rte compred with seeds tht were cid scrified for 30 minutes or physiclly scrified (Figure 1). Seeds treted with concentrted H 2 SO 4 (60 minutes) reched 50% of their finl imbibed size within 11 hours fter imbibition, compred to 20 hours for physiclly scrified seeds (significnt t P 0.01). Seeds treted with concentrted H 2 SO 4 (30 minutes) remined smll nd did not imbibe much wter or germinte for the study period. According to Woodstock (9), hrdseededness my be due to compct rrngement of cellulose microfibrils in the cell wll, involving n irreversible chnge in micellr structure during mturtion nd dehydrtion of the seed. Honeylocust seeds hve plisde epiderml lyer with thickwlled mlpighin cells. Subsequently, 30-minute cid scrifiction ws not enough to dequtely scrify the epiderml lyer leding to reduced imbibition. There ws less vrition in the rte of wter uptke between seeds treted with concentrted H 2 SO 4 (60 minutes) compred to physiclly scrified seeds (Figure 2). This my be due to lrger nd more uniform disruption of surfce re cells in cid scrified seeds compred to single wound site on the seed cot for nicking or my be due to the non-precise nture of physiclly nicking the seeds. However, Figure 2 does show how the imging system cn esily compute wter uptke on single seed bsis for such n nlysis. Bskin et l. (1) suggested tht in legume seeds the lens (strophiole) is the first plce on the seed cot for wter entry when hrd seeds become permeble under nturl conditions. In contrst, for cid scrified legume seeds, Liu et l. (7) showed generl reduction in the mterils covering mcrosclerieds throughout the seed. Therefore, rther thn single entry point for wter, it would be nticipted tht cid-treted seeds would show uniform wter uptke over the entire seed surfce. However, when wter entry ws followed on n hourly bsis, cid-treted honeylocust seeds showed symmetric wter uptke cross the seed with more wter initilly entering t the chlzl nd micropylr ends tht produced dumbbell -shped ppernce (Figure 3). This suggests tht the cells in the polr regions of the seed were more susceptible to cid scrifiction thn cells in the middle of the seed. Figure 1. Seed re in cid vs. physiclly scrified honeylocust seeds. Percentge Increse in Size 250 200 150 100 50 0 0 10 Acid 60 min Acid 30 min Physiclly nicked 20 30 40 50 60 70 Time (hr) Figure 2. Impct of strtifiction on increse in size in individul honeylocust seeds. Percentge Increse in Size 200 150 100 50 0 200 150 100 50 0 Acid 60 min Physiclly nicked Time (hr) 0 10 20 30 40 50 Time (hr) 0 10 20 30 40 50 Figure 3. Wter entry over the first 45 hours in honeylocust seeds treted with cid showing the dumbbell shpe in prtilly imbibed seeds. Initil Prtilly Imbibed Fully Imbibed 0 15 30 Time (hours) 10
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Physiclly scrified seeds showed initil wter uptke t the point of nicking with wter spreding from the center of the seed to the opposite ends of the seed or from one end to the other end of the seed depending on the initil nicking point. The sequentil imges cptured by the flt-bed scnner llowed us to document the wter uptke t hourly intervls nd enbled us to see the position of wter uptke in the honeylocust seeds s would not be possible by former techniques. One of the chrcteristics of seeds with non-deep or intermedite physiologicl dormncy is tht the embryo shows incresed growth potentil following chilling strtifiction (5). Geneve (3) showed tht isolted redbud embryos from chilled seeds grew fster thn non-chilled embryos. However, these mesurements were performed by hnd nd done every 24 hours. In contrst, using the computer-ided imging system, rdicle length could be mesured every hour nd precise growth rte clculted with little resercher investment in time (Figure 4). As predicted, non-chilled redbud embryos took 48 hours to initite growth nd required 90 hours for rdicles to rech 10 mm in length, while embryos chilled for four weeks initited growth immeditely nd reched rdicle length of 10 mm in only 45 hours (Figure 4; significnt t P 0.01). The two experiments described in this pper demonstrted tht sequentil digitl imges cptured with the fltbed scnner cn be used for vriety of growth-relted spects of seed germintion. It enbled esy identifiction nd nlysis of wter entry into seeds. This technique reveled chnges in seed morphology tht were previously undocumented for seeds with physicl dormncy. This technique cn lso be used for ssessing seeds with other types of dormncy. Also, the use of sequentil imging holds promise for n utomted system to ssess seed qulity in seed lots. Figure 4. Impct of strtifiction on redbud rdicle length. Rdicle length (mm) 20 15 10 5 Chilled for 4 weeks Non-Chilled Significnce to the Industry Sequentil digitl imges cptured with the flt-bed scnner llowed for esy identifiction nd nlysis of wter entry into seeds. This technique reveled chnges in seed morphology tht were previously undocumented for seeds with physicl dormncy. Continued reserch will provide dditionl morphologicl detils for seeds with other types of dormncy, including physiologicl nd morphologicl dormncy. The use of sequentil imging lso holds promise for n utomted system to ssess seed qulity in seed lots. This will be importnt for determining initil seed qulity fter seed hrvest nd for evluting qulity in stored seeds tht re experiencing deteriortion. Literture Cited 1. Bskin, J. M., C. C. Bskin nd X. Li. 2000. Txonomy, ntomy nd evolution of physicl dormncy in seeds. Plnt Species Biol. 15:139-152. 2. Dell Aquil, A., J.W. Vn Eck, nd G.W.A.M. Vn der Heijden. 2000. The ppliction of imge nlysis in monitoring the imbibition process of white cbbge (Brssic olerce L.) seeds. Seed Sci. Res. 10:163-169. 3. Geneve, R. L. 1991. Seed dormncy in estern redbud (Cercis cndensis). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 116:85-88. 4. Geneve. R.L. nd S.T. Kester. 2001. Evlution of seedling size following germintion using computer ided nlysis of digitl imges from flt-bed scnner. HortScience 36:1117-1120. 5. Hrtmnn, H.T., D.E. Kester, F. T. Dvies Jr., nd R. L. Geneve. 2002. Hrtmnn nd Kester s Plnt Propgtion: Principles nd Prctices. Prentice-Hll Inc., Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Seventh edition. 6. Jones, R.O., nd R.L. Geneve 1995. Seedcot structure relted to germintion in estern redbud (Cercis cndensis L.). J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci.120:123-127. 7. Liu, N.Y., H. Khtmin, nd T.A. Fretz. 1981. Seed cot structure of three woody legume species fter chemicl nd physicl tretments to increse seed germintion. J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:691-694. 8. McCormc, A. C., P.D.Keefe, nd S. R. Drper (1990). Automted vigour testing of field vegetbles using imge nlysis. Seed. Sci. Technol. 18:103-112. 9. Woodstock, L.W. 1988. Seed imbibition: criticl period for successful germintion. J. Seed Technol. 12:1-15. 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 Time (hr) 11
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Evlution of Culturl Prctices for Continer Production of Pssion Flowers Stephen Berberich, Mrk A. Willims, nd Robert Geneve, Deprtment of Horticulture Nture of Work Pssion flowers re members of the genus Pssiflor nd re mong the most exotic flowers in cultivtion. The Pssiflor genus includes mny species nd hybrids with vst diversity of color nd shpe of flowers nd folige (5). Although most pssion flowers re esily propgted from cuttings (2), there is little informtion vilble to growers bout the culturl prctices necessry for successful nursery production of these vines. The overll objective of this project is to produce tropicl vines with unusul flowers for the summer grden center continer mrket using stndrd outdoor nursery production (Figure 1). This will require culturl prctices tht mximize growth nd flower production. In the summer of 2001, preliminry study crried out using Pssiflor Blue Bouquet determined tht fertilizer concentrtion hd significnt impct on shoot length. Therefore, the objective of the current study ws to evlute effect of incresing fertilizer concentrtions on shoot length, flower number, nd biomss in severl cultivrs from diverse genetic bckgrounds. Four cultivrs, Pssiflor Blue Bouquet, P. Amethyst, P. Fledermouse, nd P. Ldy Mrgret were propgted from two node cuttings tken in erly Mrch, treted with indole-3-butyric cid (IBA) (1,000 ppm in tlc), nd stuck in Osis rooting cubes. Cuttings were plced in n intermittent mist bed (5 sec. every 10 min.) with bottom het (75 F). After three weeks, cuttings were moved to 4-inch plstic continers with pet/brk medium (Scott s Metro Mix 360) nd plced in the greenhouse. The greenhouse ws mintined with dy/night tempertures t 78/68 F. Plnts were fertilized with 100 ppm fertilizer solution (Peter s 20-10-20) t ech wtering. Plnts were moved to 5-qurt continers (Nursery Supplies Inc. Clssic 500) in Brky Bever (Professionl Grow Mix, Moss, Tenn. 38574) southern pine brk substrte on My 15, 2002, nd moved to the outdoor nursery nd plced on trickle irrigtion. Ech continer ws treted with slowrelese fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14) t 15, 20, or 25 grms per continer. The plnts were hrvested fter two months of growth in the nursery (July 15) nd evluted for number of stems, stem length, number of nodes, dry weight, nd number of flowers. Results nd Discussion All cultivrs, except P. Fledermouse produced greter shoot length (Figure 2) nd biomss (Figure 3) with 25 compred to 15 grms of fertilizer. P. Amethyst nd P. Blue Bouquet showed the most significnt increse in shoot length (72% nd 50%, respectively) nd biomss (92% nd 49%, respectively). Figure 1. Production schedule for single-seson continer-grown pssion flowers in Kentucky. Stick cuttings Mrch 1 Greenhouse Production Move to 4" continers Move outdoors Outdoor Continer Production First evlution Finl evlution Mrch 22 My 15 June 15 July 15 The results for flower numbers, though, were quite different. P. Fledermouse nd P. Blue Bouquet showed no increse in flowering t higher levels of fertilizer. However, P. Amethyst showed 93% increse in flower number when fertilizer ws incresed from 15 g to 25 g nd P. Ldy Mrgret showed 15% increse in flower number with the sme increse in fertilizer (Figure 4). One possible reson for these dt is tht, towrd the end of the production cycle, the fertilizer ws becoming depleted. Controlled relese fertilizers such s Osmocote cn increse nutrient relese by s much s 30% for every 10 C increse in temperture (4). Therefore, nutrient loss cn be quite severe during hot wether. During the nursery production phse, with the continers in direct sunlight, they cn build up considerble het, nd the substrte temperture cn rise well bove mbient temperture (1). Furthermore, lthough the mnufcturer s recommended rte of fertilizer for this size continer is 14 grms, becuse of the high growth rte of pssion flowers, higher concentrtion my be necessry. Due to nutrient leching nd the effect of incresed tempertures on the controlled relese fertilizers, multiple pplictions my be necessry Figure 2. Pssion flower totl shoot length fter two months treted with different levels of fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14). Totl Shoot Length (cm) 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 b b b b 15 g 20 g 25 g P 'Amethyst' P 'Blue Bouquet' P 'Fledermouse' P 'Ldy Mrgret' b b Pssion flower cultivr Within ech cultivr, columns with the sme letters re not significntly different (Tukey's HSD, P 0.05). b b 12
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS to prevent nutrient supply depletion s the seson progresses (3). A probble reson for the dt on flower numbers is the genetic diversity of the plnts studied. It is quite possible tht some of these vrieties will not flower erly in the seson regrdless of culturl prctices. Indeed, this is the most likely explntion for the results collected for flowering of P. Fledermouse nd P. Blue Bouquet. Further evlution is needed to determine is flowering is influenced by culturl prctices or if flowering in these vrieties is fctor of the plnts genetics. Although P. Ldy Mrgret hd the shortest stem length of ll vrieties tested, it hd the gretest number of flowers, nd it hd the highest bio-mss reltive to stem length. It produced plnt with much hevier stems nd leves long with incresed flowering. The increse in fertilizer concentrtion resulted in n increse in stem length, flower number, nd bio-mss for P. Amethyst. Two vrieties, P. Fledermouse nd P. Blue Bouquet, both produced long stems; however, neither one hd significnt number of flowers. Indeed, mny of these plnts hd no flowers t ll in the time llowed by the given production schedule. Ultimtely, P. Ldy Mrgret nd P. Amethyst showed the gretest promise nd were most productive when grown using this production scheme. Significnce to the Industry This is the second report on studies crried out to evlute the production of continer-grown pssion flowers. This study hs shown tht selected vrieties cn be successfully grown in Kentucky s single-seson crop using the production schedule presented bove. Acceptble plnts cn be grown in the two-month production scheme in n outdoor nursery using one ppliction of 25 grms of Osmocote 14-14-14 fertilizer. These plnts hve good potentil s high-vlue, continer-produced plnts for ptio or grden use in mrket where customers re looking for exotic, tropicl vines. Literture Cited 1. Cox, D. A. 1993. Reducing nitrogen leching-losses form continerized plnts: the effectiveness of controlled-relese fertilizers. Journl of Plnt Nutrition 16(3), 533-545. 2. Hle, B.S., R.L. Geneve, nd R. Anderson. 2001. Pssiflor (pssion flower) species nd cultivrs for use s summer climbers in the southern lndscpe. Proceedings of Southern Nurserymen s Assocition Reserch Conference 46:353-355. Figure 3. Pssion flower dry weight fter two months treted with different levels of fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14). Dry Weight (g) 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 b c b 15 g 20 g 25 g P 'Amethyst' P 'Blue Bouquet' P 'Fledermouse' P 'Ldy Mrgret' Pssion flower cultivr Within ech cultivr, columns with the sme letters re not significntly different (Tukey's HSD, P 0.05). Figure 4. Men number of flowers fter two months treted with different levels of fertilizer (Osmocote 14-14-14). Men number of flowers nd buds 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 b b 3. Huett, D. O. 1997. Fertilizer use efficiency by continerized plnts. Austrlin Journl of Agriculturl Reserch 48:251-258. 4. Lmont, G. P., R. J. Worrll, nd M. A. O Connell. 1987. The effects of temperture nd time on the solubility of resin coted controlled-relese fertilizer under lbortory nd field conditions. Scienti Horticulture 32, 265-273. 5. Vnderplnk, J. 1996. Pssion Flowers. Cssell Pub. Ltd., London. b b b 15 g 20 g 25 g P 'Amethyst' P 'Blue Bouquet' P 'Fledermouse' P 'Ldy Mrgret' Pssion flower cultivr Within ech cultivr, columns with the sme letters re not significntly different (Tukey's HSD, P 0.05). 13
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Use of Pelletized Poultry Litter s Continer Substrte Amy Fulcher, Cindy Finneseth, nd Winston C. Dunwell, Deprtments of Horticulture nd Regultory Services Nture of Work Kentucky hs 2,050 (T. Pesctore, UK Poultry Extension Specilist, personl communiction) poultry houses producing pproximtely 150 tons of niml wste per house ech yer (7). Poultry litter is potentilly n inexpensive nd redily vilble product for the Kentucky nursery industry. While studies hve indicted tht vrious sources nd forms of composted niml wste cn be used s continer substrte (1, 4, 5), literture indictes tht 10 to 20% is the mximum mount by volume tht cn be utilized (6, 3, 2). The objectives of this preliminry study were to determine if pelletized poultry litter could be used s continer substrte nd, if so, determine the mximum mount of poultry litter tht could be utilized. Uniform rooted cuttings of Euonymus fortunei Emerld Giety, Spire x bumld Goldflme, nd Euonymus ltus Compctus were potted on August 9-10, 2000, into 3.8 liter (#1) continers with pine brk nd 0, 5, 10, or 20% pelletized poultry litter (All Nturl Orgnic Flower & Vegetble Fertilizer, 3-4-3, Plnt Right Inc., Purdy, Mo.) by volume. The experiment ws rndomized complete block design with 10 replictions of ech tretment. Plnts were grown on grvel pd with overhed irrigtion, consistent with norml production prctices t Metclfe Lndscping nd Grden Center, Mdisonville, Kentucky. Plnts were not topdressed with commercil fertilizer. A visul ssessment ws mde whether plnts were live or ded, nd growth ws mesured on August 28, 2000. Plnt qulity rting criteri re shown in Tble 1. Dt were subjected to sttisticl nlysis using ANOVA nd men seprtion. Results nd Discussion For ll species studied, ddition of poultry litter did not significntly improve plnt qulity s compred to untreted plnts (Tbles 2 through 4). However, ddition of poultry litter t 20% by volume significntly reduced qulity for ll three species, indicting tht this level exceeds tht which could be used in nursery setting. For Euonymus ltus Compctus, substrte of 10% poultry litter significntly reduced plnt qulity. Tble 1. Criteri used to ssess plnt qulity of three ornmentl species grown in pine brk substrte supplemented with pelletized poultry litter. Rting Criteri 0 Ded 1 Alive, some burning or chlorosis 2 Alive, green, no new growth 3 < 1.5 of new growth 4 1.5-2.5 of growth 5 > 2.5 of growth Tble 2. Plnt qulity evlution of Euonymus ltus Compctus grown in pine brk substrte with ddition of 0, 5, 10, or 20 percent poultry litter by volume. Euonymus ltus Compctus Poultry Litter Concentrtion Rting* 0 2 A 5 1.7 + 0.48 A 10 0.4 + 0.52 B 20 0 B * Mens followed by the sme letter re not significntly different. Tble 3. Plnt qulity evlution of Euonymus fortunei Emerld Giety grown in pine brk substrte with ddition of 0, 5, 10, or 20 percent poultry litter by volume. Euonymus fortunei Emerld Giety Poultry Litter Concentrtion Rting* 0 2.1 + 0.32 A 5 2.3 + 1.25 AB 10 1.8 + 1.14 AB 20 0.3 + 0.95 B * Mens followed by the sme letter re not significntly different. Tble 4. Plnt qulity evlution of Spire x bumld Goldflme grown in pine brk substrte with ddition of 0, 5, 10, or 20 percent poultry litter by volume. Spire x bumld Goldflme Poultry Litter Concentrtion Rting* 0 4.4 + 0.84 A 5 4.8 + 0.42 A 10 3.6 + 1.17 A 20 0 B * Mens followed by the sme letter re not significntly different. Species Effect Spire x bumld Goldflme hd higher plnt qulity thn Euonymus ltus Compctus under ll tretment conditions. Flies congregted nd lid eggs on the bottoms of continers, creting unsvory working nd retil sles conditions. In ddition, strong odor necessitted the experiment being relocted to site further wy from retil customer trffic. While this my not be serious concern for wholesle nurseries, it my impct shipping to retil loctions. Shrinkge of 25% ws concern observed in the pots contining 20% poultry litter. 14
PRODUCTION AND ECONOMICS Significnce to the Industry An bundnce of poultry litter is found throughout mny sttes in the southestern United Sttes. Poultry litter is n cceptble substrte in smll quntities for some nursery crops. While some crops my tolerte 10%, mximum of 5% by volume poultry litter should be observed for certin crops. Testing for the optimum percent poultry litter for ech new crop is necessry. Testing ech new source of poultry litter is lso dvised. Literture Cited 1. Adkins, C. nd T. Bilderbck. 1997. Composted diry cow mnure s n mendment for nursery potting substrtes. Proceedings of the SNA Reserch Conference 42:144-145. 2. Best mngement prctices guide for producing continer-grown plnts. 1997. SNA, Mriett, GA. 3. Bilderbck, T.E. nd M.A. Powell. Using compost in lndscpe beds nd nursery substrtes. North Crolin Stte University Extension publiction AG 473-14. 4. Brdley, G. J., M. H. Glss, nd T. Bilderbck. 1996. Diry cow compost s potting substrte for growing hybrid rhododendrons. Proceedings of the SNA Reserch Conference 41:128-129. 5. Flinn, C., R. Cmpbell, nd T. Bilderbck. 1997. The use of bioconverted swine biosolids s n mendment for potting medi for commercil nursery production. Proceedings of the SNA Reserch Conference 42:146-147. 6. Inbr, Y., Y. Chen, nd Y. Hdr. 1985. The use of composted slurry produced by methonogenic fermenttion of cow mnure s growth medi. Act Hort. 172:75-82. 7. Rsnke, M. Broiler litter production in Kentucky nd potentil use nutrient source. University of Kentucky Extension publiction AGR-168. Acknowledgments The uthors wish to express their pprecition to Metclfe Lndscpe nd Grden Center, Mdisonville, Kentucky, nd Plnt Right Inc., Purdy, Missouri. 15
PEST MANAGEMENT INSECTS Influence of Rose Frgrnce nd Color on Host Loction by the Jpnese Beetle Dvid W. Held nd Dniel A. Potter, Deprtment of Entomology Nture of Work The Jpnese beetle (JB), Popilli jponic Newmn, is vorcious plnt-feeding insect nd historic pest of roses (Ros hybrid). Cultivted roses re described s perhps the most preferred of ll the ornmentl plnts (2). Beetles typiclly light on blooms, due possibly to their presence on the plnt, their lluring odor, or their striking colors. The chrcteristic top-down feeding pttern of Jpnese beetles on tree hosts, like linden, suggest tht these beetles my light on rose blooms becuse of their presence on the plnt, or plnt height in generl. Some rosrins hve observed, in mixed plntings of hybrid te roses, tht tller plnts re often ttcked first before more compct flowering roses. Beetles re lso ttrcted to rnge of plnt-produced voltiles, prticulrly those tht re florl or fruity in nture. In fct, erly USDA entomologists suggested tht odor is probbly the most importnt fctor in the beetle s selection of plnt (1). Visul cues, like color, re lso used in plnt selection. Artificil flowers tht re white nd yellow re lnded on by more beetles thn other colors in the presence of stndrd odor source. In the present study, rtificil rose flowers, or flower models, nd potted hybrid te roses with either red or yellow flowers were used to test the influence nd interction of height, frgrnce, nd color on selection of rose blooms by Jpnese beetles. The objective of the first experiment ws to determine the influence nd potentil interction of bloom height, bloom color, nd frgrnce. In this experiment, red nd yellow flower model, of the sme size, ws ttched to stke plced in the center of non-flowering potted rose. One flower of ech pir ws ttched 23 cm bove the other. There were four tretments (first being the upper, second lower, respectively); red versus yellow, yellow versus red, red bited versus yellow, yellow versus red bited. The bit ws rubber sept contining 10 ml Bulgrin rose oil conceled in the center of the flower model. This experiment ws conducted in 4 h trils on two seprte dys. The number of beetles tht lnded on ech flower model ws recorded. A second experiment evluted the role of elevted plnt height on recruitment of beetles. Potted flowering hybrid te roses (Celebrity, yellow flowers) were trnsported to Spindletop frm in lte July. Plnts were pired so tht ech plnt hd the sme number of blooms. One plnt ws then elevted 0.6 m bove the ground using plstic trsh cn. The second member of the pir ws plced in the grss t the bse of the cn. The number of beetles tht lnded on the flowers nd folige of either plnt ws recorded over 4 h. The position of the plnts ws reversed fter 2 h. The third experiment evluted the response of beetles to red- nd yellow-flowered rose cultivrs (Tble 1) tht vried in the strength of their frgrnce, s indicted by the breeders. It is importnt to note tht this clssifiction of rose frgrnce is subjective nd vrible. Nevertheless, the use of this non-quntittive vrible provides tretment structure tht is menble to further nlysis if significnt differences re found. This experiment ws conducted during lte July to erly August 2002. Flowering potted plnts were trnsported to Spindletop nd plced djcent to soyben field where beetles were ctive. Plnts were grouped by the number of open flowers nd plced 1 m prt with 2 m between ech replicte. Beetles were counted, then removed from plnts over 4-h period. Vrieties tested in tril 2 re listed in Tble 1. Plnts in this tril were grouped by bloom number nd rrnged into replictes s previously described. The number of beetles lnding on these plnts ws recorded for 4 h. Results nd Discussion The first experiment with rose models showed tht, mong unscented flowers, significntly more beetles lnded on yellow thn red flowers. This confirms the results of previous work with flower models showing more beetles lnding on yellow nd white flowers. Among unbited flowers, there ws lso no difference in the number of beetles lnding on the upper or lower flowers for ech color. When yellow flower ws pired with bited red flower, however, the number of beetles lnding on red, bited flowers ws significntly more thn the yellow flowers. This experiment suggests tht the position of the flower on the plnt is not s significnt s the influence of color or odor. Likewise, the ddition of frgrnce to less ttrctive red flower cn mke it significntly more ttrctive thn yellow flower. In generl, the plnts tht hd bited flowers hd significntly more beetles thn plnts with unbited flowers. The second experiment evluted whether Jpnese beetles prefer plnts bsed on plnt height. The sme experiment conducted with flowering cnn, nother preferred host of Jpnese beetles, showed twice s mny beetles on cnn plnts tht were elevted reltive to plnts on the ground. For roses, there ws no difference in the number of beetles between two individul roses of the sme cultivr when one ws 0.5 m tller. This reltively insignificnt effect of height or position in these experiments suggests tht observtions of incresed susceptibility my be ttributed to qulities other thn height, like frgrnce intensity nd bloom color. The third experiment evluted recruitment of beetles to vrious rose cultivrs tht differed in their bloom color (red or yellow) nd frgrnce intensity (light or moderte-hevy). 16