REDUCING TRANSPIRATION OF PANSIES (VIOLA × WITTROCKIANA) WITH ABSCISIC ACID AND 8′ ACETYLENE METHYL-ESTER ABSCISIC ACID

Post-production use of anti-transpirant compounds on ornamental plants can reduce water use and extend the marketable period of treated plants.
We compared the efficacy of foliar sprays of abscisic acid (ABA, 0-2,000 mg•L^-1) and its synthetic analog 8’ acetylene methyl-ester ABA (PBI 429, 0-200 mg•L^-1) to reduce transpiration of pansy (Viola × wittrockiana). Following treatment, the plants were placed in growth chambers and evapotranspiration (ET) was monitored using load cells.
The results of these experiments demonstrated that ABA and PBI 429 both effectively reduce cumulative ET by over 50 mL∙plant^-1 (45%), and ET rates by more than 4 mL∙hr^-1 (48%) during the first 24 hours following spray application.
The time to wilting was also extended by up to four days by both ABA and PBI-429. The two compounds were not found to be significantly different from each other when applied at the same concentrations.
PBI 429 is an effective physiological holding agent.

International Symposium on Growing Media and Soilless Cultivation

G.M. Weaver , M.W. van Iersel

anti-transpirant, chlorophyll, evapotranspiration, photosynthesis, shelf-life

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2014.1034.72