GROWTH CONTROL OF BOUGAINVILLEA SPECTABILIS `SCARLETT O`HARA'

Abstract

Bougainvillea spectabilis `Scarlett O`Hara' is an extremely fast-growing plant that can require frequent pruning during production. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of uniconazole and daminozide in controlling growth.Plants growing in 3.8-liter containers were pruned 3 days before uniconazole (SUMAGIC .05%L) or daminozide (B-NINE SP) was applied. The treatments were 1) uniconazole folier spray at 0, 50, 100, 150, or 200 ppm, 2) uniconazole drench at 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 mg ai/plant, and 3) daminozide foliar spray at 0, 2500, 5000, 7500, or 10,000 ppm. Uniconazole and daminozide primarily inhibited increase in the width of bougainvillea; height was only repressed at the high rates of uniconazole or daminozide (only 10,000 ppm). The 200 ppm uniconazole spray and the low drench rates reduced the growth rate for 3 to 5 weeks. Drenches of 2.5 or 5.0 mg ai/plant resulted in excessive growth reduction.