Influence of growth retardants on the development of Gladiolus communis L. plants

• Main Authors: Marcelo Ferraz de Campos, Clarice Backes, Jéssica Maria Coutinho Roters, Elizabeth Orika Ono, João Domingos Rodrigues
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina 2010-09-01
• Series: Biotemas
• Subjects: chlormequat chloride; ethephon; mepiquat chloride; plant growth regulators
• Online Access: http://www.biotemas.ufsc.br/volumes/pdf/volume233/31a36.pdf

Treatments involving plant growth retardants were studied in sword lily plants (Gladiolus communis L. spp.) to evaluate plant height, number of leaves and flower buds, stem diameter, and flower stalk length. The experimental design was a completely randomized layout, with four replicates and seven treatments (control; applications of mepiquat chloride at 200mg.L-1, 3 and 6 times; chlormequat chloride at 200mg.L-1, 3 and 6 times; and ethephon at 200mg.L-1, 3 and 6 times). Seven non-destructive evaluations were made every 7 days, in addition to a final collection. The ethephon treatments caused reductions in plant height and flower stalk length, and decreased stem diameter. The chlormequat chloride treatment also decreased plant stem diameter.