Germinated Impatiens wallerana Hook. f. `Super Elfin Salmon Blush' seeds were exposed to subatmospheric O2 concentrations for 12, 24, or 48 hours at 25C. Suppression of radicle growth during a subsequent 24-hour simulated shipping period was monitored, as was plant growth during a subsequent growth cycle. One percent to 2% O2 for 12 or 24 hours limited radicle elongation to <1.0 mm during the simulated shipping period (darkness, ambient O2) and caused no permanent damage to seedlings. Suppression of radicle elongation with low O2 was greater with a 24-hour than a 12-hour exposure. Oxygen at 0% for 24 hours or at 0% to 1.5% O2 for 48 hours damaged seedlings irreversibly. These results show that specific subatmospheric O2 treatments can restrict radicle elongation of germinated seeds during subsequent shipment to a grower and that the low O2 treatment does not decrease subsequent plant growth.

Petunia seeds of `White Cascade', `Red Flash', and `Red Madness' were sown in 406 plug trays on the same date. The first transplanting occurred when the plants could be removed from the cells without root damage. Subsequent transplanting occurred for four weeks. The first transplanting of `White Cascade' flowered two weeks earlier than the second while the third transplanting was one week behind the second. `Red Flash' flowered two weeks earlier for the first transplanting. There was no effect on time to flower for the `Red Madness'. The highest fresh and dry weights corresponded to the earliest flowering transplants. Optimum growth and development for most petunia cultivars was obtained with the earliest transplanting without root damage.

Gibberellin‐growth retardant interactions on the vegetative growth and flowering of the vine Clerodendrum thomsoniae Balf. were studied using both exogenous treatments and biologically testing the acid fraction attained from the plant extract. The growth retardant, ancymidol, greatly retarded stem elongation and markedly increased flowering under inductive environments. Gibberellin A3 (GA3) application to the shoot tip stimulated vine growth, prevented flowering under inductive environments, and completely overcame ancymidol‐induced effects. In contrast to GA3, treatment with GA7 had little effect on vegetative growth but increased flowering under inductive environments. The elevated activity of gibberellin‐like compounds, as determined by bioassay, were similar except for a marked increase in levels in ancymidol‐treated plants grown under inductive environmental conditions. Microscopic examination of the stem tip indicated that the action of the growth regulators involved the induction of floral buds. Thus, in Clerodendrum, ancymidol appears to stimulate an unknown gibberellin(s) and simultaneously acts antagonistically with GA3.

Water uptake by impatiens (Impatiens wallerana Hook. f. cv. Super Elfin Coral) seeds was measured as an increase in fresh weight every 24 hours during 144 hours of germination. Seeds absorbed most of the water required for germination within 3 hours of imbibition and germinated at 60% to 67% moisture on a dry-weight basis. Germination started at 48 hours and was complete by 96 hours at 25C. Water stress of -0.1, -0.2, -0.4, and -0.6 MPa, induced by polyethylene glycol 8000, reduced germination by 13%, 49%, 91%, and 100%, respectively, at 96 hours. Under the same water-stress conditions, increases in fresh weight were inhibited by 53%, 89%, 107%, and 106%, respectively. Three distinct groups of storage proteins were present in dry seed; their estimated molecular weights were 1) 35, 33, and 31 kDa; 2) 26, 23, and 21 kDa; and 3) two bands <14 kDa. Major depletion of storage proteins coincided with the completion of germination. Water potentials that inhibited germination also inhibited degradation of storage proteins. During germination under optimum conditions, the soluble protein fraction increased, coinciding with a decrease in the insoluble fraction.

Plug flats of Begonia × semperflorens-cultorum Hort. `Pizzazz Red', Vodka', and `Viva' were provided 0, 50, 125, or 200 μmol·s-1·m-2 metal-halide supplemental irradiance in the greenhouse for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Treatments were initiated when seedlings were in the first true leaf stage (2 weeks after sowing). Plug-grown begonias reached transplantable dry weight and leaf area after 4 weeks of 125 μmol·s-1·m-2 supplemental exposure, while those under O and 50 μmol·s-1·m-2 required 6 to 8 weeks. Fewest number of days to visible bud and anthesis and the fewest number of nodes for all cultivars occurred after 2 weeks of 125 μmol·s-1·m-2 supplemental exposure. The same conditions achieved the greatest final leaf area and plant height; however, final dry weight was unaffected. Additional supplemental irradiance and/or exposure time did not accelerate flowering or improve vegetative growth of finished plants.