Glass-glazed Greenhouse Research Articles

Ethephon Substrate Drenches Control Stem Elongation of Containerized Herbaceous Perennials

Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid) is a widely used plant growth regulator applied in the production of horticultural and agronomic crops. Preliminary research reports that drench applications inhibit growth of containerized ornamental plants, though few herbaceous perennials have been evaluated to determine responses to ethephon drenches. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate and quantify the efficacy of ethephon substrate drenches on the growth of 17 species of containerized flowering herbaceous perennials. Plants were transplanted into 12.7-cm or 16.5-cm containers filled with a soilless peat-based substrate. After 10 d, eight single-plant replicates received a substrate drench of 90 mL or 296 mL aliquots of solution, based on container size, containing 0, 125, 250, 500, 750, or 1000 mg·L−1 ethephon. Plants were grown in a glass-glazed greenhouse for 3 to 8 weeks after drench before growth and morphological data, including plant height, plant diameter, shoot dry weight, and root dry weight were determined. The magnitude of growth control varied among herbaceous perennials species and ethephon concentrations. For most species, drenches of 125 to 500 mg·L−1 ethephon were effective for controlling plant height and plant diameter without negatively affecting aesthetic ornamental plant quality. For instance, Russian sage (Salvia yangii B.T. Drew), wandflower [Oenothera lindheimeri (Engelm. & A. Gray) W.L. Wagner & Hoch ‘Siskiyou Pink’], and blanket flower (Gaillardia aristata Pursh. ‘SpinTop® Red Starburst’) drenched with 125 and 250 mg·L−1 were 48% to 56% (22.7 to 26.4 cm), 16% to 31% (6.9 to 13.2 cm), and 11% to 14% (2.1 to 2.6 cm) shorter, respectively, than untreated plants and no further height control occurred at concentrations >250 mg·L−1 ethephon. We observed a 22% (9.5 cm) and a 35% (10.5 cm) smaller plant diameter for lobed tickseed (Coreopsis auriculata L. ‘Leading Lady Iron’) and pincushion flower (Scabiosa columbaria L. ‘Pink Mist’), respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 125 mg·L−1 ethephon. Root dry weight of lobed tickseed and woodland sage (Salvia nemorosa L. ‘East Friesland’) were 54% (8.2 cm) and 69% (6.2 cm) less, respectively, as concentrations increased from 0 to 500 mg·L−1 ethephon. Although we did not quantify time to visible bud or open flower, most plants displayed visible buds or at least one open flower by the time data were collected; however, responses varied among species. Our research demonstrates that ethephon substrate drenches were effective in controlling growth of containerized herbaceous perennials, but growers must consider taxa-specific variations in response.

Optimizing Sowing Density for Parsley, Cilantro, and Sage in Controlled Environment Production: Balancing Productivity and Plant Quality

Sowing density is a key management practice influencing productivity and quality of leafy greens and culinary herbs grown in controlled environments. However, research-based information on optimal density is limited for many culinary herbs. This greenhouse study aimed to quantify sowing density impacts on biomass output, individual plant growth, and morphological traits in hydroponically produced ‘Giant of Italy’ parsley (Petroselinum crispum), ‘Santo’ cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), and sage (Salvia officinalis). Seedlings were grown in phenolic foam cubes with 1, 5, 10, 15, or 20 seeds per cell, transplanted into an ebb-and-flow hydroponic system in a glass-glazed greenhouse with 23 °C target average daily temperature, 16-hour photoperiod, a target daily light integral of 13 mol·m−2·d−1, and harvested at 16 to 28 d after transplanting depending on species. ‘Giant of Italy’ parsley and ‘Santo’ cilantro fresh weight per cell increased quadratically by 274% (57.3 g) and 305% (19 g), respectively, as sowing density increased from 1 to 15 seeds per cell, then plateaued as density further increased. Sage fresh weight plateaued at 10 seeds per cell with an increase of 225% (29.2 g) compared with 1 seed per cell. Cilantro and sage dry weight per cell plateaued at 14 and 8 seeds per cell, respectively, and parsley dry weight quadratically increased as sowing density rose up to 20 seeds per cell. Although fresh and dry weight increased, individual plant height, stem diameter, and individual plant dry weight exhibited linear or quadratic declines as sowing density increased, indicating higher sowing densities restricted individual plant growth. In summary, as sowing density increased, fresh and dry weight per cell generally increased but individual plant quality decreased. For the greatest fresh and dry weight, 20, 18, and 10 seeds per cell should be sown for parsley, cilantro, and sage, respectively. However, to balance fresh weight and crop quality, our results suggest sowing density (seeds per cell) targets of 16 seeds for parsley, 18 seeds for cilantro, and 10 seeds for sage.

Intumescence Response by Tomato Plants Grown in a Greenhouse or Indoors Using Two Types of Soilless Culture Systems

The main objective of this study was to characterize intumescence injury of three susceptible tomato cultivars grown in a greenhouse or indoors using two types of soilless culture systems. Plants of cultivars Maxifort, Camaro, and Patio were grown in either an indoor environment with broadband white and red light-emitting diode (LED) fixtures providing a daily light integral (DLI) of 12.7 mol·m−2·day−1 [photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) of 220 ± 3 µmol·m−2·s−1 for 16 h·d−1] or in a glass-glazed greenhouse with supplemental lighting provided by high-pressure sodium lamps that delivered a PPFD of ∼150 µmol·m−2·s−1. Plants were grown using deep-water culture hydroponic systems or containers with a peat-based substrate. The growing environment had a larger effect on intumescence incidence and severity than the growing system, likely due to differences in ultraviolet radiation (100 to 400 nm), but other factors such as day/night temperature and relative humidity (RH), could have affected the response. Across cultivars, the probability of developing intumescence was higher indoors (≥91%) than in the greenhouse. Indoor-grown plants also developed symptoms of the disorder from 2 to 6 days earlier than those in the greenhouse. Similarly, intumescence incidence was higher in plants from all cultivars grown indoors than in the greenhouse, but differences between the two environments were generally greater for Patio and Camaro than for Maxifort, which was the most susceptible cultivar. Greenhouse conditions were more conducive to active plant growth. For example, plants in the greenhouse were more than 2 times taller and had at least 12 times greater leaf area than those indoors, which resulted in large differences in shoot dry mass. However, environmental effects on intumescence response also contributed to differences in growth, as plants that were most affected by the disorder experienced severe leaf abscission and/or senescence. Our overall findings show that intumescence is greatly affected by the production environment, but injuries are likely to change based on genetic susceptibility.

Effects of Supplemental Light Source on Basil, Dill, and Parsley Growth, Morphology, Aroma, and Flavor

Broad-spectrum high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps are the standard for greenhouse supplemental lighting. However, narrow-spectra light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer potential benefits for enhancing growth, photosynthesis (Pn), and secondary metabolites in culinary herbs. Our objective was to quantify the effect of supplemental light source and spectra on growth, gas exchange, aroma, and flavor of culinary herbs. Basil (Ocimum basilicum ‘Nufar’), dill (Anethum graveolens ‘Fernleaf’), and parsley (Petroselinum crispum ‘Giant of Italy’) were transplanted into hydroponic systems in a glass-glazed greenhouse. Plants were provided with a supplemental photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) density of 100 μmol·m−2·s–1 from an HPS lamp or LEDs with a low blue (B) to red (R) light ratio of 7:93 [low blue (LB)] or high B:R at 30:70 [high blue (HB)]. Compared with plants grown under HPS lamps, basil grown under LB and HB LED lighting was shorter, while only HB-grown parsley was shorter; height of dill was unaffected by light source. Basil and parsley shoot fresh weight was lower for HB-treated plants compared with HPS, though dill was unaffected by supplemental light source. Shoot dry mass of basil, dill, and parsley was unaffected by light source. Both LED treatments increased Pn for basil and parsley compared with HPS-grown plants. Stomatal conductance (gS) was higher under LB and HB for basil compared with HPS in the morning and evening, but only HB-treated parsley was higher than HPS lighting in morning. Basil grown under LB, and parsley under both LEDs had lower chlorophyll fluorescence than those under HPS by the evening, but all three species had more chlorophyll b under LB light than HPS. Essential oil and phenolic accumulation were influenced by supplemental light treatment and responses varied among species. Lighting from LEDs resulted in a 2-fold increase in orientin and myristicin for basil and dill, respectively, while HB increased dillapiole concentration by 89% compared with HPS-grown dill. Notably, quercetin concentration was 2.8 times higher in dill grown under HB compared with HPS. Myrcene increased in all three species under either one (basil HB; dill LB) or both (parsley) LED lights compared with HPS. The increased content of aromatic and flavor compounds demonstrates the potential of supplemental lighting systems using specific wavelengths to add value; but the use of supplemental lighting requires an understanding of the additional stress on the photosynthetic mechanisms and the subsequent effect on biomass accumulation.

Prairie Dropseed Germination Highest with Warm, Moist Conditions

We tested prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis) using six different germination treatments and found the best results with cold (40 °F), dry storage followed by direct seeding into a commercial germination mix placed in a 75 °F glass-glazed greenhouse with intermittent mist (5 seconds of mist every 8 minutes), and 600-W high-pressure sodium lighting with a 16-hour daylength. We found commercial laboratory viability analysis from tetrazolium staining did not correspond to germination results. Cold (34 °F), moist (2.3 g seed moistened with 2.5 mL deionized water) treatment, also known as cold conditioning, produced significantly less germination and fewer transplantable seedlings, and is not recommended for prairie dropseed.

Comparison of Sole-source and Supplemental Lighting on Callus Formation and Initial Rhizogenesis of Gaura and Salvia Cuttings

Variability in outdoor daily temperatures and photosynthetic daily light integrals (DLIs) from early spring to late fall limits the ability of propagators to accurately control propagation environments to consistently callus, root, and yield compact herbaceous perennial rooted liners. We evaluated and compared the effects of sole-source lighting (SSL) delivered from red (R) and blue (B) light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to supplemental lighting (SL) provided by high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps on herbaceous perennial cutting morphology, physiology, and growth during callusing and initial rhizogenesis. Cuttings of perennial sage (Salvia nemorosa L. ‘Lyrical Blues’) and wand flower (Gaura lindheimeri Engelm. and A. Gray ‘Siskiyou Pink’) were propagated in a walk-in growth chamber under multilayer SSL provided by LEDs with [R (660 nm)]:[B (460 nm)] light ratios (%) of 100:0 (R100:B0), 75:25 (R75:B25), 50:50 (R50:B50), or 0:100 (R0:B100) delivering 60 µmol·m−2·s–1 for 16 hours (total DLI of 3.4 mol·m−2·d−1). In a glass-glazed greenhouse (GH control), cuttings were propagated under ambient solar light and day-extension SL provided by HPS lamps delivering 40 µmol·m−2·s–1 to provide a 16-hour photoperiod (total DLI of 3.3 mol·m−2·d−1). At 10 days after sticking cuttings, callus diameter and rooting percentage were similar among all light-quality treatments. For instance, callus diameter, a measure of growth, of wand flower cuttings increased from an average 1.7 mm at stick (0 day) to a range of 2.7 to 2.9 mm at 10 days after sticking, regardless of lighting treatment. Relative leaf chlorophyll content was generally greater under SSL R75:B25 or R50:B50 than all other light-quality treatments. However, stem length of perennial sage and wand flower cuttings propagated under SSL R50:B50 at 10 days were 21% and 30% shorter and resulted in 50% and 8% greater root biomass, respectively, compared with those under SL. The herbaceous perennial cuttings propagated in this study under SSL R50:B50 were of similar quality or more compact compared with those under SL, indicating that callus induction and initial rooting can occur under LEDs in a multilayer SSL propagation system.

Propagation Daily Light Integral and Root-Zone Temperature Influence Rooting of Single-internode Pennisetum ×advena Culm Cuttings

Crown division, tissue culture, and culm cuttings are methods for propagating purple fountain grass [Pennisetum ×advena Wipff and Veldkamp (formerly known as Pennisetum setaceum Forsk. Chiov. ‘Rubrum’)]. However, propagation by culm cuttings is becoming an economically attractive method for quick liner production. Our objective was to quantify the impact of propagation daily light integral (PDLI) and root-zone temperature (RZT) on root and culm development of single-internode purple fountain grass culm cuttings. Before insertion into the rooting substrate, cuttings were treated with a basal rooting hormone solution containing 1000 mg·L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) + 500 mg·L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The cuttings were placed in a glass-glazed greenhouse with an air temperature of 23 °C and benches with RZT set points of 21, 23, 25, or 27 °C. PDLIs of 4 and 10 mol·m−2·d−1 (Expt. 1) or 8 and 16 mol·m−2·d−1 (Expt. 2) were provided. After 28 d, culm and root densities (number) increased as the RZT increased from 21 to 27 °C, regardless of PDLI during Expt. 1. Compared with 4 mol·m−2·d−1, a PDLI of 10 mol·m−2·d−1 generally resulted in the greatest root biomass accumulation. For example, as PDLI increased from 4 to 10 mol·m−2·d−1, root dry mass increased by 105%, 152%, and 183% at RZTs of 21, 25, and 27 °C, respectively. In Expt. 2, as the RZT increased from 21 to 23 °C, root dry mass increased by 70% under a PDLI of 8 mol·m−2·d−1. However, root dry mass was similar among all RZTs under a PDLI of 16 mol·m−2·d−1. Our results indicate that single-internode culm cuttings of purple fountain grass can be most efficiently propagated under PDLIs of 8–10 mol·m−2·d−1 together with RZT set points of 23 to 25 °C for quick liner production.

Physiological and Productivity Responses of High-wire Tomato as Affected by Supplemental Light Source and Distribution within the Canopy

The relative coolness-to-touch of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has enabled commercial implementation of intracanopy lighting (ICL) in the greenhouse. Intracanopy lighting, which refers to the strategy of lighting along the side or from within the foliar canopy, can increase canopy photosynthetic activity, but physiological and productivity responses of high-wire greenhouse tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) to intracanopy supplemental lighting (SL) still are not yet fully understood. Two consecutive production experiments were conducted across seasons in a glass-glazed greenhouse located in a midnorthern, continental climate [lat. 40°N (West Lafayette, IN)]. Plants were grown from winter-to-summer [increasing solar daily light integral (DLI)] and from summer-to-winter (decreasing solar DLI) to compare three SL strategies for high-wire tomato production across changing solar DLIs: top lighting with high-pressure sodium lamps (HPS) vs. intracanopy LED vertical towers vs. hybrid SL (HPS + horizontal ICL-LEDs). A control treatment also was included for which no SL was provided. Supplemental DLI for each experimental period was adjusted monthly, to complement seasonal changes in sunlight, aiming to approach a target total DLI of 25 mol·m‒2·d‒1 during fruit set. Harvest parameters (total fruit fresh weight, number of fruit harvested, and average cluster fresh weight), tissue temperature, chlorophyll fluorescence, and stomatal conductance (gS) were unaffected by SL treatment in both experiments. Among the physiological parameters evaluated, CO2 assimilation measured under light-saturating conditions, light-limited quantum-use efficiency, and maximum gross CO2 assimilation (Amax) proved to be good indicators of how ICL reduces the top-to-bottom decline in leaf photosynthetic activity otherwise measured with top lighting only (HPS-SL or solar). Although SL generally increased fruit yield relative to control, lack of SL treatment differences among harvest parameters indicates that higher crop photosynthetic activity did not increase fruit yield. Compared with control, intracanopy SL increased yield to the same extent as top SL, but the remaining photoassimilate from ICL most likely was partitioned to maintain nonharvested, vegetative plant parts as well.

Biomass Accumulation and Allocation, Photosynthesis, and Carbohydrate Status of New Guinea Impatiens, Geranium, and Petunia Cuttings Are Affected by Photosynthetic Daily Light Integral during Root Development

During the propagation of herbaceous stem-tip cuttings, the photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) inside greenhouses can be low (≈1–4 mol·m−2·d−1) during the winter and early spring when propagation typically occurs. The mechanisms by which cuttings adapt biomass allocation patterns, gas exchange, and starch accumulation in response to the photosynthetic DLI are not clearly understood. Our objectives were to quantify the impact of DLI on growth, photosynthesis, and carbohydrate concentration during the root development phase of cutting propagation. Petunia (Petunia ×hybrida ‘Suncatcher Midnight Blue’), geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum ‘Fantasia Dark Red’), and new guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri ‘Celebration Pink’) cuttings were propagated in a glass-glazed greenhouse with 23 °C air and substrate temperature set points. After callusing (≈5 mol·m−2·d−1 for 7 days), cuttings of each species were placed under either no shade or one of the two different fixed-woven shade cloths providing ≈38% or 86% shade with 16 hours of supplemental light for 14 days, resulting in DLIs of 13.0‒14.2, 5.5‒6.0, and 2.0‒2.4 mol·m−2·d−1, respectively. Leaf, stem, and root biomass accumulation increased linearly with DLI by up to 122% (geranium), 118% (petunia), and 211% (new guinea impatiens), as DLI increased by ≈11‒12 mol·m−2·d−1, while relative biomass allocation into roots increased under increasing DLI. Compared with cuttings rooted under low DLIs (2.0‒2.4 mol·m−2·d−1), cuttings of all three species generally had greater maximum gross photosynthesis under high DLIs (13.0‒14.2 mol·m−2·d−1) starting 5 or 8 days after transfer. Starch concentration increased with DLI by up to 946% (impatiens) during propagation. Taken together, the increased growth of cuttings appears to be a result of increased carbohydrate availability from elevated photosynthesis and/or photosynthetic capacity.

Tomatoes Grown with Light-emitting Diodes or High-pressure Sodium Supplemental Lights have Similar Fruit-quality Attributes

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are an attractive alternative to high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps for plant growth because of their energy-saving potential. However, the effects of supplementing broad-waveband solar light with narrow-waveband LED light on the sensory attributes of greenhouse-grown tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) are largely unknown. Three separate studies investigating the effect of supplemental light quantity and quality on physicochemical and organoleptic properties of greenhouse-grown tomato fruit were conducted over 4- or 5-month intervals during 2012 and 2013. Tomato cultivars Success, Komeett, and Rebelski were grown hydroponically within a high-wire trellising system in a glass-glazed greenhouse. Chromacity, Brix, titratable acidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH measurements of fruit extracts indicated plant response differences between lighting treatments. In sensory panels, tasters ranked tomatoes for color, acidity, and sweetness using an objective scale, whereas color, aroma, texture, sweetness, acidity, aftertaste, and overall approval were ranked using hedonic scales. By collecting both physicochemical as well as sensory data, this study was able to determine whether statistically significant physicochemical parameters of tomato fruit also reflected consumer perception of fruit quality. Sensory panels indicated that statistically significant physicochemical differences were not noticeable to tasters and that tasters engaged in blind testing could not discern between tomatoes from different supplemental lighting treatments or unsupplemented controls. Growers interested in reducing supplemental lighting energy consumption by using intracanopy LED (IC-LED) supplemental lighting need not be concerned that the quality of their tomato fruits will be negatively affected by narrow-band supplemental radiation at the intensities and wavelengths used in this study.

Growth Responses of Tomato Seedlings to Different Spectra of Supplemental Lighting

Seedlings of six tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivars (‘Maxifort’, ‘Komeett’, ‘Success’, ‘Felicity’, ‘Sheva Sheva’, and ‘Liberty’) were grown monthly for 2-week treatment periods to determine photomorphogenic and developmental responses to different light-quality treatments from supplemental lighting (SL) across changing solar daily light integrals (DLIs). Seedlings were grown in a glass-glazed greenhouse at a midnorth latitude (lat. 40° N, long. 86° W) under one of five lighting treatments: natural solar light only (control), natural + SL from a 100-W high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamp, or natural + SL from arrays of red and blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using 80% red + 20% blue, 95% red + 5% blue, or 100% red. Varying solar DLI occurred naturally for all treatments, whereas constant DLI of 5.1 mol·m−2·d−1 was provided for all SL treatments. Supplemental lighting increased hypocotyl diameter, epicotyl length, shoot dry weight, leaf number, and leaf expansion relative to the control, whereas hypocotyl elongation decreased when SL was applied. For all cultivars tested, the combination of red and blue in SL typically increased growth of tomato seedlings. These results indicate that blue light in SL has potential to increase overall seedling growth compared with blue-deficient LED SL treatments in overcast, variable-DLI climates.

Finishing Bedding Plants: A Comparison of an Unheated High Tunnel versus a Heated Greenhouse in Two Geographic Locations

Energy accounts for one of the largest costs in commercial greenhouse (GH) production of annual bedding plants. Therefore, many bedding plant producers are searching for energy efficient production methods. Our objectives were to quantify the impact of growing annual bedding plants in an unheated high tunnel (HT) compared with a traditional heated GH environment at two northern latitudes. Ten popular bedding plants [angelonia (Angelonia angustifolia), vinca (Catharanthus roseus), celosia (Celosia argentea), dianthus (Dianthus chinensis), geranium (Pelargonium ×hortorum), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), french marigold (Tagetes patula), viola (Viola ×cornuta), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), and osteospermum (Osteospermum ecklonis)] were grown both in an unheated HT and a glass-glazed GH with an 18 °C temperature set point beginning on 1 Apr. 2011 at both Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) and Purdue University (West Lafayette, IN). Although seven of the species exhibited a delay in flowering in the HT as compared with the heated GH, there were no differences in days to flower (DTF) for geranium, osteospermum, and viola grown at Cornell and viola at Purdue. The remaining species exhibited delays in flowering in the HT environment, which varied based on species. At Purdue, several species were lost because of a cold temperature event necessitating a second planting. For the second planting, osteospermum was the only species grown that flowered significantly later in the HT; 7 days later than the GH-grown plants. Production of cold-tolerant annuals in unheated or minimally heated HTs appears to be a viable alternative for commercial producers aiming to reduce energy costs.

SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING FOR GREENHOUSE-GROWN TOMATOES: INTRACANOPY LED TOWERS VS. OVERHEAD HPS LAMPS

ISHS International Symposium on New Technologies for Environment Control, Energy-Saving and Crop Production in Greenhouse and Plant Factory - Greensys 2013 SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING FOR GREENHOUSE-GROWN TOMATOES: INTRACANOPY LED TOWERS VS. OVERHEAD HPS LAMPS

Cuttings of Impatiens, Pelargonium, and Petunia Propagated under Light-emitting Diodes and High-pressure Sodium Lamps Have Comparable Growth, Morphology, Gas Exchange, and Post-transplant Performance

Increasing photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) by supplementing with high-pressure sodium (HPS) lamps during propagation has been shown to enhance photosynthesis and biomass accumulation of cuttings. The development of high-intensity light-emitting diodes (LEDs) is a promising technology with potential as a greenhouse supplemental lighting source. Our objective was to quantify the impact of narrow spectra supplemental lighting from LEDs on growth, morphology, and gas exchange of cuttings compared with traditional HPS supplemental lighting. Cuttings of Impatiens hawkeri W. Bull ‘Celebrette Frost’, Pelargonium ×hortorum L.H. Bailey ‘Designer Bright Red’, and Petunia ×hybrida Vilm. ‘Suncatcher Midnight Blue’ were received from a commercial propagator and propagated in a glass-glazed greenhouse at 23 °C air and substrate temperature set points. After callusing (≈5 mol·m−2·d−1 for 7 days), cuttings were placed under 70 μmol·m−2·s−1 delivered from HPS lamps or LED arrays with varying proportions (%) of red:blue light (100:0, 85:15, or 70:30). After 14 days under supplemental lighting treatments, growth, morphology, and gas exchange of rooted cuttings were measured. There were no significant differences among Impatiens and Pelargonium cuttings grown under different supplemental light sources. However, compared with cuttings propagated under HPS lamps, stem length of Petunia cuttings grown under 100:0 red:blue LEDs was 11% shorter, whereas leaf dry mass, root dry mass, root mass ratios, and root:shoot ratio of cuttings grown under 70:30 red:blue LEDs were 15%, 36%, 17%, and 24% higher, respectively. Supplemental light source had minimal impact on plants after transplant. Our data suggest that LEDs are suitable replacements for HPS lamps as supplemental light sources during cutting propagation.

Photosynthetic Daily Light Integral During Root Development Influences Subsequent Growth and Development of Several Herbaceous Annual Bedding Plants

Vegetatively propagated bedding plants are produced during the late winter and early spring when outdoor photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) is low, especially in northern latitudes. Our objective was to quantify how propagation DLI influences subsequent growth and development of annual bedding plants. Cuttings of Angelonia angustifolia Benth. ‘AngelMist White Cloud’, Nemesia fruticans (Thunb.) Benth. ‘Aromatica Royal’, Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Voltage Yellow’, and Verbena ×hybrida Ruiz ‘Aztec Violet’ were harvested and propagated in a glass-glazed greenhouse. After callusing (≈5 mol·m−2·d−1 for 7 days), cuttings of each species were placed under one of three different fixed-woven shadecloths providing ≈38%, 61%, or 86% shade or no shade with 16 h of supplemental light for 14 days. Rooted cuttings were then transplanted into 11-cm containers and grown in a common greenhouse of 21 ± 1 °C and DLI of ≈12 mol·m−2·d−1 to identify any residual effects on subsequent growth and development during the finish stage. As DLI during propagation increased, time to first open flower decreased for Angelonia, Nemesia, Osteospermum, and Verbena. For example, time to flower for Angelonia and Osteospermum was hastened by 23 and 19 days, respectively, as DLI during propagation increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m−2·d−1. Our research can be used to predict growth and flowering under varying propagation DLIs for the cultivars of Angelonia, Nemesia, Osteospermum, and Verbena in the study.

Growth, Morphology, and Quality of Rooted Cuttings of Several Herbaceous Annual Bedding Plants Are Influenced by Photosynthetic Daily Light Integral During Root Development

Cuttings of herbaceous annual bedding plants must be rooted in late winter and early spring when ambient outdoor photosynthetic daily light integrals (DLIs) are at seasonally low levels. We evaluated the effect of DLI during root development on growth, morphology, and quality of nine popular vegetatively propagated annual bedding plant species. Cuttings of Angelonia angustifolia Benth. ‘AngelMist White Cloud’, Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bip. ‘Madeira Cherry Red’, Diascia barberae Hook. f. ‘Wink Coral’, Lantana camara L. ‘Lucky Gold’, Nemesia fruticans (Thunb.) Benth. ‘Aromatica Royal’, Osteospermum ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Voltage Yellow’, Scaevola L. hybrid ‘Blue Print’, Sutera cordata Roth. ‘Abunda Giant White’, and Verbena Ruiz ×hybrida ‘Aztec Violet’ were harvested and propagated in a glass-glazed greenhouse with 23 °C air and substrate temperature set points. After callusing (≈5 mol·m−2·d−1 for 7 days), cuttings of each species were placed under one of three different fixed-woven shade cloths providing ≈38%, 61%, or 86% shade or no shade with 16 h of supplemental light for 14 days. There were no clear trends across species for stem length in response to DLI. Stem caliper of Argyranthemum, Diascia, and Nemesia increased by 35%, 119%, and 89%, respectively, as DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m−2·d−1. Depending on species, total, shoot, and root dry mass increased by 64% to 465%, 50% to 384%, and 156% to 1137%, respectively, as DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m−2·d−1. The quality index, an objective, integrated, and quantitative measurement of rooted cutting quality, increased for all species by 176% to 858% as DLI increased from 1.2 to 12.3 mol·m−2·d−1. Our results indicate that providing a DLI of ≈8 to 12 mol·m−2·d−1 after callusing increases both growth and quality of rooted cuttings.

Influence of NIR-Reflecting Shading Paint on Greenhouse Environment, Plant Temperature, and Growth and Flowering of Bedding Plants

During greenhouse production, growers often utilize shading strategies to reflect shortwave radiation (SWR; 300 to 2,700 nm) and reduce the thermal load inside a greenhouse. Greenhouse glazing or shading materials that photoselectively filter more near-infrared radiation (NIR; 770 to 2,700 nm) than photosynthetically active radiation (PAR; 400 to 700 nm) can be used to reduce thermal energy transmission. We quantified environmental conditions and bedding plant growth and flowering inside a glass-glazed greenhouse (lat. 42.7° N) that received an application of either a commercially available NIR-reflecting (NIR-R) or neutral (N) shading paint. During two summer seasons, shading paints were applied to the glazing exterior of different greenhouses so that the mean daily transmission of PAR was similar. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd. ex Klotz) or bedding plants were grown inside each greenhouse. The NIR-R paint transmitted 67%, 8%, 24%, 30%, and 29% less ultraviolet-A (315 to 380 nm), red (R; 600 to 700 nm), far-red (FR; 700 to 800 nm), NIR, and SWR, respectively, than the N paint. Transmission of blue (400 to 500 nm) and green (500 to 600 nm) light was 4.7% and 4.5% greater, respectively, under the NIR-R versus N paint. The ratio of transmitted PAR per unit of SWR under the N and NIR-R paints was 1.8 and 2.6 µmol W-1 s-1, respectively. During the day (1100 to 1800 h), mean greenhouse air, shoot-tip, and leaf temperatures were 0.4°C to 1.5°C, 0.4°C to 1.2°C, and 0.7°C to 1.5°C higher, respectively, under the N paint compared with the NIR-R paint. From 0900 to 1700 h, the ratio of R to FR light under the NIR-R paint ranged from 1.44 to 1.79, whereas the N paint and outside the greenhouse had an R:FR ratio of 1.11 to 1.22. Blue salvia (Salvia farinacea Benth.), pansy (Viola × wittrockiana Hook.), and petunia (Petunia ×hybrida Vilm.-Andr.) flowered a mean of 1 to 3 d earlier under the N versus NIR-R paint, but plant heights were similar.

Use of a cyclic high-pressure sodium lamp to inhibit flowering of chrysanthemum and velvet sage

Use of a cyclic high-pressure sodium lamp to inhibit flowering of chrysanthemum and velvet sage

EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND PSEUDOBULB MATURITY ON FLOWERING OF THE ORCHID MILTONIOPSIS AUGRES 'TRINITY'

ISHS XXVII International Horticultural Congress - IHC2006: International Symposium on Ornamentals, Now! EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND PSEUDOBULB MATURITY ON FLOWERING OF THE ORCHID MILTONIOPSIS AUGRES 'TRINITY'

Effect of Root Substrates and Nutrient Solution Electrical Conductivity on Tomato Transplant Characteristics

In order to evaluate alternative rooting media as a substitute to sphagnum peat in tomato transplant, fresh rice hulls (2 and 4 mm particle size), perlite, and peat were compared. In the same experiment, four nutrient solutions differing in electrical conductivity [(EC) 2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 6.0 mS/cm], but not in nutrient content, were used. Seed of tomato (Lycopersium esculentum L.) `Brigade' (ASGROW) were sown in 55 × 35 × 6.5 cm polystyrene transplant trays containing 336 cells (15 mL) and filled with the root substrates. The trays were placed in a glass-glazed greenhouse. Trays were kept under intermittent mist for 6 days and then fertilized twice per week with 2.6 L per tray of solution. A split-plot design with three replications was used with nutrient solution serving as the main plot and root substrates serving as the subplots. During the growing cycle (once a week) and when plants were ready to transplant (16 cm tall, with an average of five to seven true leaves), stem diameter, hypocotyl length, plant height, number of true leaves, fresh shoot weight, and dry shoot weight were measured. Also at transplant, root fresh and dry weight and above- and below-ground biomass were analyzed to determine N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn content. Plants grown in rice hulls were as marketable as those in peat, but showed a higher content in N, K, and Mn. Increased nutrient solution affected not only dry matter accumulation, but also stem diameter and plant hight, which were greater in plants grown with high EC.