Articles
POTENTIAL USES OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS IN BULB GROWING AND FORCING
Article number
91_16
Pages
153 – 160
Language
Abstract
Current work on effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on bulbs is reviewed, and several areas are identified where PGRs have a potential commercial use.
These include (i) dwarfing for pot-plant production or where shorter, sturdier growth is advantageous (ii) treatments to encourage flowering in borderline-size bulbs (iii) replacement of part of the cold requirement by PGRs (iv) prevention of flower blasting or floral abcission (v) use in techniques for rapid propagation, and (vi) more general morphological effects such as modifying floral initiation, stem extension and apical dominance, and altering periodicity and source-sink relations.
These include (i) dwarfing for pot-plant production or where shorter, sturdier growth is advantageous (ii) treatments to encourage flowering in borderline-size bulbs (iii) replacement of part of the cold requirement by PGRs (iv) prevention of flower blasting or floral abcission (v) use in techniques for rapid propagation, and (vi) more general morphological effects such as modifying floral initiation, stem extension and apical dominance, and altering periodicity and source-sink relations.
For many of these uses, current knowledge is scanty and empirical.
Application techniques are poorly understood and are hindering experimentation as well as commercial application.
There are encouraging prospects for future developments and the potential rewards are great.
Publication
Authors
A.R. Rees, G.R. Hanks
Keywords
Online Articles (63)