Influence of paclobutrazol in the soil on growth, nutrient elements in the leaves, and flood/freeze tolerance of citrus rootstock seedlings

Abstract

Paclobutrazol [(2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3ol] was applied to soil at 0, 100, or 250 mg/3.78-liter pot containing seedlings of Swingle citrumelo, Carrizo citrange, Cleopatra mandarin, sour orange, rough lemon, and Sun Chu Sha. All cultivars were sensitive to paclobutrazol, which caused a proliferation of shorter/thicker roots, and top growth showed shorter internodes and lower dry weight. Induced changes resulted in greater root/shoot ratios, and paclobutrazol treatments showed higher concentrations of nitrogen, calcium, boron, iron, and manganese in the leaves of different cultivars. Paclobutrazol-treated seedlings did not show a greater ability to tolerate flooded soil for 60 continuous days under greenhouse conditions nor survive-6.7°C controlled freeze tests. Paclobutrazol is a potentially useful plant growth regulator to dwarf citrus, but it apparently is not a strong candidate for increasing flooding and freezing tolerance in citrus rootstock seedlings.