Articles
PLANT GROWTH REGULATOR USE IN HORTICULTURE IN THE FUTURE
Article number
329_71
Pages
303 – 308
Language
Abstract
The use of PGR’s in modern horticulture is well established.
Indeed certain fields of horticulture such as asexual propagation are heavily dependent on the use of synthetic PGR’s.
However "chemicals" and chemical use are being received less favourably by the consuming public, particularly if these "chemicals" were used to produce, or are present, on a commodity they plan to consume ! If the current trend is not reversed we will lose all the plant growth regulators applied to fruit.
What is to be done to redress this problem? We propose some possible solutions, (i) greater use of endogenous growth regulators mediated via physical manipulations such as girdling and pruning, (ii) a different approach to PGR research moving the emphasis to the understanding of endogenous regulation, (iii) greater use of "natural" as opposed to synthetic growth regulators, (iv) better methods of targetting and application of PGRs such as trunk injection and (v) total cessation of the use of the name "hormones" if favour of terminology such as "natural plant regulator" or "natural plant response modulator" etc.
This approach may convince the consumer that the production of excellent quality fruit with no health risk is possible.
Indeed certain fields of horticulture such as asexual propagation are heavily dependent on the use of synthetic PGR’s.
However "chemicals" and chemical use are being received less favourably by the consuming public, particularly if these "chemicals" were used to produce, or are present, on a commodity they plan to consume ! If the current trend is not reversed we will lose all the plant growth regulators applied to fruit.
What is to be done to redress this problem? We propose some possible solutions, (i) greater use of endogenous growth regulators mediated via physical manipulations such as girdling and pruning, (ii) a different approach to PGR research moving the emphasis to the understanding of endogenous regulation, (iii) greater use of "natural" as opposed to synthetic growth regulators, (iv) better methods of targetting and application of PGRs such as trunk injection and (v) total cessation of the use of the name "hormones" if favour of terminology such as "natural plant regulator" or "natural plant response modulator" etc.
This approach may convince the consumer that the production of excellent quality fruit with no health risk is possible.
Authors
J.G.M. Cutting, B.N. Wolstenholme
Keywords
Online Articles (72)