Dypsis Lutescens Research Articles

Influence of Fertilizer Placement on Plant Quality, Root Distribution, and Weed Growth in Container-grown Tropical Ornamental Plants

In two experiments, chinese hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii), areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), fishtail palm (Caryota mitis), macarthur palm (Ptychosperma macarthurii), shooting star (Pseuderanthemum laxiflorum), downy jasmine (Jasminum multiflorum), plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), alexandra palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae), and foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) were transplanted into 6.2-L (2-gal) containers. They were fertilized with Osmocote Plus 15N-3.9P-10K (12-to14-month formulation) (Expt. 1) or Nutricote Total 18N-2.6P-6.7K (type 360) (Expt. 2) applied by either top dressing, substrate incorporation, or layering the fertilizer just below the transplanted root ball. Shoot dry weight, plant color, root dry weights in the upper and lower halves of the root ball, and weed shoot dry weight were determined when each species reached marketable size. Optimal fertilizer placement method varied among the species tested. With the exception of areca palm, none of the species tested grew best with incorporated fertilizer. Root dry weights in the lower half of the root ball for chinese hibiscus, bamboo palm, and downy jasmine were greatest when the fertilizer was layered and root dry weights in the upper half of the root ball were greatest for top-dressed chinese hibiscus. Weed growth was lower in pots receiving layered fertilizer for four of the six palm species tested.

Influence of Light Intensity on Optimum Fertilization Rate in Five Species of Tropical Ornamental Plants

Five species of tropical ornamental plants—artillery fern (Pilea serpyllacea), pleomele (Dracaena reflexa), fishtail palm (Caryota mitis), areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), and sunshine palm (Veitchia mcdanielsii)—were grown in containers under full sun, 55% shade, or 73% shade. They were fertilized every 6 months with Osmocote Plus 15-9-12 (15N-4P-10K) at rates of 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 g/pot (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.1, and 1.3 oz/pot). For pleomele and the three palm species, optimum shoot dry weights and color ratings were similar among the three light intensities tested. However, artillery fern grown in full sun required fertilizer rates at least 50% higher for optimum shoot dry weight and color than under 55% or 73% shade. Light intensit × fertilizer rate interactions were highly significant for pilea and fishtail palm color and dry weight and sunshine palm and pleomele color.

Effects of a Microbial Inoculant on Plant Growth and Rhizosphere Bacterial Populations of Container-grown Plants

A commercially available microbial inoculant (Plant Growth Activator Plus) that contains 50 microorganisms, primarily bacteria, was evaluated in a soilless container substrate to determine its effects on root bacterial populations and growth response of container-grown plants at three fertilizer rates. The tropical ornamental plants included hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis `Double Red'), spathiphyllum (Spathiphyllum `Green Velvet') and areca palm (Dypsis lutescens). The bacterial groups enumerated were fluorescent pseudomonads, actinomycetes, heat-tolerant bacteria, and total aerobic bacteria. Analysis of the inoculant before its use determined that fluorescent pseudomonads claimed to be in the inoculant were not viable. The plant variables measured were plant color rating, shoot dry weight and root dry weight. Only hibiscus shoot dry weight and color rating increased in response to the addition of the inoculant to the substrate. Hibiscus roots also had a significant increase in the populations of fluores-cent pseudomonads and heat-tolerant bacteria. From a commercial production point of view, increasing fertilizer rates in the substrate provided a stronger response in hibiscus than did addition of the microbial inoculant. Furthermore, use of the inoculant in this substrate did not compensate for reduced fertilizer inputs.

Effect of Four Growing Substrates on Growth of Ornamental Plants in Two Irrigation Systems

In this study, areca palm (Dypsis lutescens), crossandra (Crossandra infundibuliformis), pentas (Pentas lanceolat), and philodendron (Philodendron) `Hope' plants were transplanted into containers filled with four growing substrates and watered daily, every 2 days, or every 3 days using subirrigation or overhead irrigation. Plants were grown in either a pine bark/sedge peat/sand substrate (BSS), Metro-mix 500 (MM), Pro-mix GSX (PM), or a 60% biosolid substrate (SYT). For both irrigation systems, final shoot dry weight of pentas, crossandra, philodendron, and areca palm plants in each substrate was greatest for plants watered every day and least for plants watered every 3 days. At all three irrigation frequencies, pentas, crossandra, and philodendron shoot dry weight in subirrigated pots filled with PM was greater than in overhead watered pots filled with PM. PM had the highest total pore space and moisture content of the four substrates examined. There was no difference in pentas, crossandra, or philodendron shoot dry weight between the irrigation systems, at all three irrigation frequencies, when plants were grown in BSS, MM, or SYT. However, for all four substrates and at all three irrigation frequencies, areca palm shoot dry weight was greater in overhead watered pots than in subirrigated pots. The final substrate electrical conductivity (EC) in all four subirrigated palm substrates was more than double the concentrations in overhead watered palm substrates. In this study, largest pentas, crossandra, and philodendron plants were grown in pots filled with PM and subirrigated daily, while largest areca palm plants were grown in pots filled with MM or SYT and watered overhead daily.

Substrate Nutrient Retention and Growth of Container-grown Plants in Clinoptilolitic Zeolite-amended Substrates

Downy jasmines [Jasminum multiflorum (Burm. f.) Andr.] and areca palms [Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf.] were grown in containers filled with a fine sand soil (SS) or with a pine bark-based potting substrate (PS). Each of these substrates was amended with 0%, 10%, or 20% clinoptilolitic zeolite (CZ) by volume. Plants were fertilized monthly with a water-nonsoluble 20N-4.3P-16.6K granular fertilizer. Downy jasmines were larger and had darker color in CZ-amended PS and were larger in CZ-amended SS than in nonamended SS or PS. Areca palms, which tend to be limited by K in SS had better color and larger size when the SS was amended with CZ. In PS, where K is seldom limiting, areca palms did not respond to CZ amendment of the PS. Both ammonium (NH4)-N and potassium (K) were retained against leaching by CZ, but some of the NH4-N adsorbed to CZ was subject to nitrification, either before or after its release into the soil solution. Some phosphate (PO4)-P was also retained by CZ.

Root and Shoot Growth Responses to Phosphate Fertilization in Container-grown Plants

Areca palms [Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & J. Dransf.], spathiphyllums (Spathiphyllum Schott. `Figaro'), ixoras (Ixora L. `Nora Grant'), tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. `Floramerica'), marigolds (Tagetes erecta L. `Inca Gold'), bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L. `Better Bell'), and pentas [Pentas lanceolata (Forssk.) Deflers. `Cranberry'] were grown in a pine bark-based potting substrate and were fertilized weekly with 0, 8, 16, 32, or 64 mg (1.0 oz = 28,350 mg) of P per pot. Shoot, and to a much lesser extent, root dry weight, increased for all species as weekly P fertilization rate was increased from 0 to 8 mg/pot. As P fertilization was increased from 8 to 64 mg/pot, neither roots nor shoots of most species showed any additional growth in response to increased P. Root to shoot ratio decreased sharply as P fertilization rate was increased from 0 to 8 mg/pot, but remained relatively constant in response to further increases in P fertilization rate.

Phytotoxicity and Longevity of Twenty-two Preemergent Herbicides used on Three Species of Container-grown Palms

Twenty-two preemergent herbicides were applied at their maximum labeled rates and twice those rates to determine their safety and effectiveness on areca palm [Dypsis lutescens (H. Wendl.) Beentje & Dransf.], pygmy date palm (Phoenix roebelenii O'Brien), and mexican fan palm (Washingtonia robusta H. Wendl.). Two products, dichlobenil and metolachlor showed consistent phytotoxicity on all three species. Several of the remaining products caused death of the apical meristem in mexican fan palms and reduced growth rates in pygmy date palms, but most caused little damage to areca palms. Herbicides applied as sprays generally remained effective for 2 to 4 months, whereas granular products, especially those containing oxyfluorfen plus another chemical, were effective for up to 8 months.

Influence of Seed Treatments on Germination and Initial Growth of Ornamental Palms

Experiments were conducted in the Dominican Republic to determine the effect of physical and chemical treatments on the germination of the ornamental palms Roystonea hispaniolana Bailey (Royal palm), Acrocomia quisqueyana Bailey (Corozo palm), Sabal umbraculifera Mart (Cana palm), Phoenix canariensis (Canary Islands date palm), Veitchia merrillii (Becc) Bailey (Manila palm), Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl (Areca palm), and Caryota urens (Fishtail palm). Treatments were seed immersion in water or gibberellic acid 3 (GA3) solution for 72 hours, immersion in concentrated nitric acid for 5 minutes, or cracking of the seed coat. Rate and percentage of emergence 90 days after treatment were measured. The best results for Roystonea, Phoenix, Veitchia, Caryota, and Chrysalidocarpus were obtained soaking the seeds in water or a 200-ppm gibberellic acid solution. Nitric acid and seed coat cracking significantly reduced the germination percentage in all the species, except Acrocomia guisqueyana and Sabal umbraculifera. Seeds of Acrocomia did not germinate as a response to any of the treatments tested. Sabal seeds germinated only after coat cracking or nitric acid treatment.

Comparative Morphology and Pathology of Calonectria theae and C. colhounii in Hawaii.

Calonectria theae is distinguished from C. colhounii by perithecial color, number of ascospores in an ascus, longer stipes, longer conidia, and the formation of a second conidial type that is extraordinarily long, angular, and borne on simple, submerged, dichotomously branching conidiophores. Both species were isolated from ohia (Metrosideros collinus), M. excelsus, and sentry palm (Howea forsteriana). C. theae was also isolated from leather leaf fern (Rumohra adiantiformis) and Strelitzia, while C. colhounii isolates were obtained from Eucalyptus, Leucospermum, and Chrysalidocarpus lutescens. All tested isolates of both Calonectria spp. were pathogenic to ohia, an important native tree species in Hawaiian forests. Both species killed apical shoots, and caused leaf spotting, blighting, and subsequent defoliation. Symptomatically, the diseases caused by these species are indistinguishable on ohia. This disease poses a potential threat to native forests.

Testing the Light Acclimatization Potential of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the interior performance of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens grown for 8 months under 481, 820, and 1241 μmol·m–2·s–1 and fertilized weekly with a 20N–4.7P–16.6K soluble fertilizer at 440, 880, and 1660 mg/pot. Afterwards, plants were placed indoors and maintained at 20 μmol·m–2·s–1 for 12 h daily at 21±1C and a relative humidity of 50%±5% for 3 months. At the end of the production phase, light compensation point (LCP) varied from 243 μmol·m–2·s–1 at the high irradiance level to 140 μmol·m–2·s–1 at the lowest one. Chlorophyll concentration in the leaves was not affected by irradiance or fertilizer rate. Starch concentration in stems and roots were higher the lower the fertilizer rate applied during production and the higher the irradiance level. After 3 months indoors, LCP declined for all the treatments, but the lowest LCP reached, 126 μmol·m–2·s–1, was still too high if the plant has to survive an interior environment. After the interior holding period, a 45% to 55% reduction was observed on leaf, stem, and root soluble sugar concentrations, and stem and root starch concentrations decreased by 97%, and 62% to 72%, respectively, compared to the concentration at the end of production. The number of fronds increased in all treatments during the postproduction evaluation. However, the drastic carbohydrate concentration depletion during the interior holding period indicates that C. lutescens is not a species for extended use under very low interior light conditions.

Controlled Release Urea Fertilizers Affect the Growth and Quality of Selected Foliage Plants

Three formulations of an encapsulated urea product and one sulfur-coated urea were evaluated at 0 to 4 times the recommended rate on Chomaedorea elegans, Chomaedorea seifrizii, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Spathiphyllum `Tasson', and Rhapis excelsa against a standard controlled-release fertilizer at equal N rates. Each plant species responded differently to the fertilizer sources. Chomaedorea seifrizii and Spathiphyllum `Tasson' did not exhibit preferences for fertilizer source from top-growth measurements. Chomaedorea elegans, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, and Rhapis excelsa growth measurements indicate that fertilizer source affected growth and quality of the plants. The general recommendation for foliage plant production is an equal ratio of ammoniacal to nitrate nitrogen sources. Economically, this ratio makes the fertilizer more expensive than other traditional fertilizers. The use of a controlled-release urea fertilizer has the benefit of being a cheaper source of N and would lower the cost of production, but results on the selected foliage plants indicate that the fertilizer composition is important in plant production.

Nitrate, Phosphate, and Potassium Leaching from Container-grown Plants Fertilized by Several Methods

Spathiphyllum Schott. `Mauna Loa Supreme' and areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl.) were grown for 6 months in 3.5-liter containers using a pine bark–sedge peat–sand container medium or a native sand soil. Plants were fertilized with equivalent amounts of a 21N–3P–12K fertilizer applied weekly as a liquid, monthly as a soluble granular, bimonthly as a lightly coated controlled-release, or every 6 months as a heavily coated controlled-release fertilizer. All leachates were collected and analyzed weekly for NO3-N, PO4-P, and K. Amounts of all three nutrients leached per week varied considerably in response to fertilizer reapplications or high rainfall. Nitrate leaching generally decreased over time, PO4-P leaching increased, and K remained relatively constant. Shoot dry weights of spathiphyllum were equivalent for all fertilization methods, but areca palm shoot dry weights were highest with liquid fertilization and lowest with the soluble granular fertilizer. Nutrient leaching for all three ions was highest for the soluble granules and lowest for the two controlled-release formulations.

857 PB 434 ROOT DISTRIBUTION OF SIX PALM SPECIES GROWN IN CUPRIC HYDROXIDE-TREATED CONTAINERS

The root distribution of seedlings of Acoelorrhaphe wrightii, Carpentaria acuminata, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Livistona chinensis, Phoenix roebellenii, and Washingtonia robusta were grown in nontreated containers or in containers treated on their interior surfaces with 25, 50 or 100 g CU(OH)2/1. Seedlings of all species grown in treated containers had reduced circling or matted roots at the container wall-growing medium interface. The distribution of root dry weight and root length was species specific, and was significantly influenced by the rate of copper hydroxide applied. Copper treatment did not induce visual signs of copper toxicity, nor differences in shoot growth, nor differences in the number of higher-order lateral roots.

Comparison between two controlled-release fertilizers on selected foliage plants in an artificial potting mix

A series of trials compared Osmocote® and a recently available controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) product, Nutricote®, at the same rates of N per container. Comparable formulations (e.i. 3–4 months) were compared on a variety of tropical foliage plants including:Impatiens, palms (Chamaedorea seifrizii, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Phoenix roebelinii, Rhapis excelsa andChamaedorea elegans) andSpathiphyllum; at 10 rates of N from 0 to 2–3 times the manufacture's recommended rate in a 1:1 (v:v) peat:perlite mix amended with dolomitic lime and a commercial micronutrient mixture. The plants were grown in a shade house, watered with overhead spray stakes and pest control measures used as required. Growth parameters used were plant height, growth index and top dry weight, along with tissue analysis and NO3- concentrations. Overall plant height of the majority of plants tested was found to be comparable for the two CRF sources. However, there were some differences in top dry weight and leaf green color which were species specific. These results suggest that the release rate and availability of specific nutrients during the various plant growth phases may be more important for optimum plant growth and quality than the fertilizer formulation used. In general, both CRF products resulted in satisfactory plant growth and quality under the conditions of these trials.

ACCLIMATIZATION OF CHRYSALIDOCARPUS LUTESCENS WENDL.

A 3×3 factorial experiment in a split-plot design was conducted to evaluate interior performance of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens. Treatments included three irradiance levels (481, 820 and 1241 μmol m–2 s–1) and three fertilizer rates (440, 880 and 1660 mg/23-cm pot, weekly). Plants were grown for 8 months under greenhouse conditions. Afterwards, plants were placed indoors (20μmol m–2 s–1 for 12 hr daily, 21 ±1 C and relative humidity of 50 ±5%) for 3 months. At the end of the production phase, light compensation point (LCP) varied from 243 μmol m–2 s–1 at the high irradiance level to 140 at the low irradiance level. Dry weight and nonstructural carbohydrates were lower and chlorophyll content was higher as irradiance levels were reduced. Increasing fertilizer to the highest rate decreased dry weight and nonstructural carbohydrates. After 3 months indoors, LCP declined to 1 26 μmol m–2 s–1. Number of fronds increased in all treatments at the expense of reserved carbohydrates. However, the drastic carbohydrate depletion observed after the interior holding period (97% in stem starch and 62% in root starch) indicates that C. lutescens is not a species for extended use under very low interior conditions

Etiology and Control of Phytophthora Leaf Blight of Golden-Fruited Palm

Necrotic brown flecks and rapidly forming, large, angular to irregularly shaped leaf spots of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (golden-fruited palm) were shown to be caused by Phytophthora nicotianae. Among Palmae tested, Pritchardia thrustonii, Ptychosperma macarthurii, Areca sp., Pinanga sp., and Thrinax sp. were susceptible to P. nicotianae. Metalaxyl and fosetyl-Al applied as either foliar sprays or drenches provided effective control of this disease in greenhouse tests

Influence of Slow-release Fertilizer Source on Growth and Quality of Areca Palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl

There was little difference noted in plant growth and quality of Areca palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens Wendl., when treated with three levels of several slow-release fertilizers at the manufacturer's recommended rates. The two resin-coated (RC) materials 18N-2.6P-10K and 17N-3.1P-10K (18-6-12 and 17-7-12) and urea formaldehyde (UF) fertilizer 10N-4.4P-8.3K (10-10-10) resulted in significantly better growth than either the isobutyledene diurea (IBDU) 20N-2.2P-4.2K (20-5-5) or the sulfur-coated urea (SCU) 14N-6P-12K (14-14-14) fertilizer sources. The RC materials were the least expensive fertilizers used in the production of this slow growing crop.

Factors Affecting Storage and Germination of Chysalidocarpus lutescens Seeds

Abstract A series of experiments evaluated the effects of seed maturity, seed cleaning, gibberellic acid (GA3) or water presoaking, temperature, and planting depth on the percentage and speed of germination of Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl. seed. Effects of temperature, cleaning, and storage container on the viability of stored C. lutescens seed were determined in another set of experiments. Germination was rapid and consistent when yellow to fully ripe seed was exposed to temperatures between 30° and 35°C. Cleaning seed is not essential if planting is done immediately. Presoaking seeds in 1000 ppm GA3 for 48 hr slightly accelerated germination speed, but caused excessive elongation of the resulting seedlings and was therefore not recommended. The best method for long-term storage of C. lutescens seed was to clean yellow to fully ripe seed, air-dry at 80% to 90% RH, treat with a seed protectant fungicide, and store at 23° in tightly sealed polyethylene containers. Optimum planting depth was dependent on the drying potential of the germination site.

Transmission of the coconut cadang‐cadang viroid to six species of palm by inoculation with nucleic acid extracts

Seedlings of Areca catechu (betel nut palm), Corypha elata (buri palm), Adonidia merrillii (manila palm), Elaeis guineensis (oil palm), Chrysalidocarpus lutescens (palmera) and Oreodoxa regia (royal palm) were inoculated with nucleic acid extracts from coconut palms with cadang‐cadang disease. Within 2 years of inoculation, analysis using a 32P‐labelled DNA probe complementary to the coconut cadang‐cadang viroid (CCCV) showed that RNA sequences identical to CCCV were present in the inoculated seedlings. Electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gels showed that these palms also contained an RNA with mobility identical to CCCV. Four to five years after inoculation, the infected palms of four species were usually stunted compared with uninoculated palms, while betel nut and palmera were not stunted. Yellowing of leaflets was observed with defined spots or mottling of the older fronds in all except betel nut palms. All infected palms showed mild or severe yellow‐leaf spotting. These results widen the known host range and. hence, the potential number of viroid reservoir species in the field.

Effect of Age and Handling on Subsequent Growth and Development of Areca Palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens, Seedlings

This study was initiated to determine the optimal stage to transplant Areca Palm, Chrysalidocarpus lutescens H. Wendl., seedlings and to determine their tolerance to adverse handling during transplanting. Best growth and less plant loss occurred when transplanting was done at an early developmental stage (spike or 1st-leaf stage compared to 2nd-leaf stage). Growth reduction and losses were minimized when minimum root disturbance and desiccation occurred.