CONTROL OF ZANTEDESCHIA AETHIOPICA GROWTH WITH FLURPRIMIDOL PREPLANT TUBER SOAKS AND SUBSTRATE DRENCHES

Preplant tuber soaks and post emergence substrate drenches of flurprimidol were trialed.
Flurprimidol substrate drenches ranging from 1 to 4 mg of active ingredient per pot were applied to ‘Crystal Blush’, ‘Garnet Glow’, and ‘Sunshine’ for growth control of greenhouse-forced calla lilies (Zantedeschia aethiopica L.). No phytotoxicity was observed with any drench concentration.
Flurprimidol substrate drenches of 1 to 2 mg were effective on calla lily growth control. ‘Crystal Blush’ plants were 25% shorter than the untreated control with 1.5 mg flurprimidol. ‘Garnet Glow’ plants were 17% shorter than the untreated control with 1.5 mg flurprimidol. ‘Sunshine’ plants were 18% shorter than the untreated control with
1 mg flurprimidol.
Ten-minute flurprimidol preplant tuber soaks ranging from 7.5 to 45 mg/L were ineffective in controlling plant growth.
Higher concentrations or longer soak times may be required to achieve a degree of plant growth, but given the prevalence of the bacterium Erwinia carotovora, in calla lilies, a recommendation for preplant tuber soaks for commercial production is not advisable.

X International Symposium on Flower Bulbs and Herbaceous Perennials

B.E. Whipker, I. McCall, W. Buhler

calla lily, plant growth regulator, Topflor

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2011.886.55