Diurnal Temperature Alterations Influence Final Height of Herbaceous Perennials

Abstract

DIF is the difference between day (DT) and night (NT) temperatures. Temperature drop is a 2-hour temperature reduction at sunrise. DIF and temperature drop, which can be affected by light quality, are effective methods to control final plant height of many greenhouse crops. The effect of DIF and temperature drop on final height was determined for eight species of perennials. Durations for DIF temperatures were 12 hours for both DT and NT. Temperature alterations occurred at sunrise. Temperature treatments (DT/NT) consisted of zero DIF (20/20°C), negative DIF (16/24°C), or positive DIF (24/16°C), and a 2-hour drop (12.7/20.7°C). Long days (LD) were provided from 2200-0200 hr by either cool-white fluorescent (CWF) or incandescent (INC) lights. Data for days to visible bud and anthesis, bud number, and final height were collected. Positive DIF conditions enhanced elongation while negative DIF reduced it in all species. As DIF decreased from positive to negative, plant height was reduced 10%, 30%, 30%, and 20% in Coreopsis `Moonbeam' and `Sunray', Delphinium `Belladonna', and Scabiosa `Butterfly Blue', respectively. Negative-DIF responses were enhanced under CWF lights for some species. In negative-DIF conditions, Coreopsis `Moonbeam' and `Sunray' and Delphinium `Belladonna' were 10%, 10%, and 15% shorter, respectively, under CWF lights than INC lights.