EFFECTS OF UNICONAZOLE MEDIA DRENCH AND FOLIAR SPRAY APPLICATIONS ON GROWTH OF PYRACANTHA, PHOTINIA, AND DWARF BURFORD HOLLY

Abstract

Uniform liners of pyracantha (Pyracantha coccinea Roem `Lalandei'), photinia (Photinia × fraseri Dress) and dwarf Burford holly (Ilex cornuta Lindl. and Paxt. `Burfordii Nana') were potted into 3.8 liter containers in a pine bark:sand medium. Ten weeks later, plants received uniconazole treatments as a media drench or foliar spray. The uniconazole drench rates were 0, 0.5, 1.0, and 3.0 mg ai per container for all three plant species. The foliar application rates were 0, 50, 100 and 150 ppm for pyracantha, 0, 25, 50 and 100 ppm for photinia, and 0, 10, 25, and 50 ppm for dwarf Burford belly. Plant heights and widths were recorded at 3 week intervals, and leaf chlorophyll content was determined by calorimeter at the same time as height and weight measurements. At harvest, leaf counts, leaf areas, and shoot, leaf and root dry weights were determined. Initial results indicate that both foliar and media drench treatments of uniconazole reduced growth of pyracantha and photinia at all rates. Only the two highest rates decreased growth of dwarf Burford holly when applied as either a media drench or a foliar spray.