Controlling Growth of Sanchezia Plant by Foliar Application of Micronutrients and Paclobutrazol

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Ornamental Horticulture Department, Fac. of Agric., Cairo Univ., Giza, Egypt

Abstract

A POT EXPERIMENT was carried out to evaluate the effect of foliar application of micronutrients mixtures and paclobutrazol on controlling growth of sanchezia plants. The experimental treatments were laid out in a split plot arrangement using a randomized complete block design. Micronutrients mixtures of Zn + Mn + Fe+ B at 50 (C1), 100 (C2) and 150 (C3) ppm of each element were assigned to main plot, while paclobutrazoltreatments; 8, 16, and 24 mgL-1 were allocate to sup-plot. Spraying plants with tap water represent control treatments. Foliar application of micronutrients at the level of C2 significantlyenhanced plant growth in terms of plant height, stem diameter, root length, leaf area, number of leaves and inflorescences, fresh and dry matter of leaves, shoots, inflorescences and roots. Total chlorophyll, total carbohydrates, Fe, Zn, Mn and B contents of leaves increased in plants sprayed with micronutrients.  The most visible effect of paclobutrazol is the decrease in all studied growth traits. Severe retardation of plant growth was evident at 24 mg a.i.L-1  of paclobutrazol. Foliar application of paclobutrazol enhanced total chlorophyll content up to 16 mg L-1. Plant height, stem diameter and root length linearly decrease with the paclobutrazol concentrations. Application of paclobutrazol at the level of 16 mg L-1 markedly increased total carbohydrates and mineral contents of leaves. The significance interaction between micronutrients and paclobutrazol, especially for plant height and leaf area increase the diversity of potted plants grown for the ornamental plants market.

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