Effects of Split-night Temperatures, Light, and Chlormequat on Growth and Carbohydrate Status of Pelargonium × hortorum
Year: 1984
Type: article
Abstract: Seedlings (72 or 48 days old) of Pelargonium × hortorum cv. Red Elite were grown in 1 experiment from the 6th leaf stage in controlled-environment (CE) rooms at 4 temperatures, including 2 split-night (SN) regimes and at 3 daily-light integrals; in a 2nd experiment they were grown at 2 temperatures including one SN regime, at 3 daily-light integrals, and with and without chlormequat soil drench. Each of the 2 night-temperature periods were of equal duration in the SN regimes. Plants grown under the SN regimes were either similar in growth and reproductive development to plants grown under constant night conditions, where the temperature was the mean of the 2 SN temperatures, or were generally intermediate in growth and development to plants grown throughout the night at each of the 2 temperatures used in the SN regime. A daily mean temperature of 20°C compared to 16.8° or 18° reduced the time between the 6th leaf and macrobud visible stages by 8 days. Leaf starch and sugar levels decreased as mean daily temperatures increased, but increased as daily-light integrals increased. Drenches of (2-chloroethyl)-trimethylammonium chloride (chlormequat) applied at the 6th leaf stage limited plant height and leaf area without influencing flowering date.
Authors: J. W. White, I. J. Warrington
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,500
OpenAlex ID: W2486653415