The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the reaction of ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells (Heuchera sanguinea) and Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet (Epilobium canum ssp. garrettii ‘PWWG01S’) to repeated foliar applications of three plant growth regulators at two application rates. The plant growth regulators applied during a stock plant study and followed by a propagation study were 200 and 400 ppm ethephon, 250 and 500 ppm benzyladenine, and 50 and 100 ppm gibberellic acid 4 and 7 (GA4+7) + benzyladenine. The stock plant study was conducted to assess the efficacy of plant growth regulators, vegetative growth (height and width growth index), the number of vegetative cuttings, as well as the fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of the harvested vegetative cuttings. The propagation study was conducted to determine the effects of the plant growth regulator treatments on the rooting of the vegetative cuttings. The stock plant study showed that GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 and 100 ppm) significantly increased production of ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells cuttings compared with all other treatments. However, no significant differences in FW or DW were observed with ‘Snow Angel’ coral bells between treatments. In the propagation study, no significant difference in rooting percentage was observed after 4 weeks. The Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet stock plant study resulted in a greater number of vegetative cuttings with GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 and 100 ppm) and benzyladenine (250 ppm) treatments. Fresh weight of vegetative cuttings harvested from plants treated with GA4+7 + benzyladenine (50 or 100 ppm) were the lowest. The only treatment that showed increased vegetative cutting production with no effect on FW was benzyladenine (250 ppm) on Orange Carpet hummingbird trumpet.

No abstract

Moroccan pincushion (Pterocephalus depressus) is a drought-tolerant perennial that is being used in landscapes throughout arid areas of the western United States. This paper describes two experiments researching vegetative cutting production from stock plants. Moroccan pincushion stock plants received foliar applications of gibberellic acid (GA3), benzyladenine, ethephon, or auxin [indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)] plant growth regulators (PGR). Plant growth regulators were applied singularly and in combination with GA3 to determine efficacy on stock plant growth. A propagation study was conducted simultaneously to determine effects of these different PGR treatments applied to stock plants on the rooting of moroccan pincushion cuttings. The stock plant study showed GA3 + benzyladenine application increased cutting production over other PGR treatments. Fresh weight of moroccan pincushion cuttings did not differ among treatments. While cuttings did not differ in dry weight in experiment 1, statistical differences were observed in experiment 2. However, these differences in dry weight did not affect the quality of the cuttings. Cuttings from stock plants treated with GA3 + IBA treatment had the highest numerical growth index [(height + width + width)/3]. Cuttings from stock plants treated with GA3 alone or in combination with another PGR were all greater in average growth index and statistically differed from those without GA3 being applied. PGR treatments did not affect rooting percentages of the cuttings with nontreated stock plant cuttings successfully rooting at an average rate of 95%. However, GA3 + IBA was the only treatment where cuttings had 100% rooting for both experiments, indicating potential rooting benefits. Index words: Plant growth regulator, propagation, Pterocephalus depressus, vegetative cuttings. Species used in this study: Moroccan pincushion [Pterocephalus depressus Archibald]. Chemicals used in this study: gibberellic acid (GA3), benzyladenine, ethephon, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA).

This study aimed to assess the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on stock plant production of mojave sage (Salvia pachyphylla) and ‘Avalanche’ cape daisy (Osteospermum hybrid) that received foliar sprays of the following three PGRs: 200 and 400 ppm ethephon; 250 and 500 ppm benzyladenine; and 50 and 100 ppm gibberellic acid 4 and 7 (GA4+7) plus benzyladenine. Vegetative growth [height and width growth index (GI)], the number of vegetative cuttings, and fresh weight (FW) and dry weight (DW) of the harvested vegetative cuttings data were collected. A propagation study was conducted concurrently to determine the effects of the PGR treatments on rooting vegetative cuttings. GA4+7 plus benzyladenine (50 and 100 ppm) increased the production of both mojave sage and ‘Avalanche’ cape daisy cuttings by ≥18% more than the other treatments. The GI, FW, and DW results showed similar trends across experiments 1 and 2 for each perennial. In the propagation study, the rooting percentage did not differ after 4 weeks, indicating that the use of GA4+7 plus benzyladenine in production protocols could benefit producers of both perennials.

Stock plant productivity is an important concern for growers of mojave sage (Salvia pachyphylla) because this species produces more woody growth as the plant ages. The objective of the study was to determine the best growth substrate and container size combination to maximize stock plant productivity. A secondary objective was to determine whether the stock plant treatments influenced the rooting of vegetative cuttings. Three different container sizes (3, 12, and 15.5 qt) and four soilless substrates composed primarily of bark, peat, and perlite (substrate 1); bark, peat, and vermiculite (substrate 2); bark, peat, and coarse perlite (substrate 3); and peat (substrate 4) were used. The stock plant experiment was conducted using 12 treatment combinations, and a subset of those stock plants was selected randomly for the rooting study that immediately followed the stock plant experiment. Stock plants responded to substrate treatments differently. The most successful stock plants, which produced more cuttings per plant and per square foot, as well as larger cuttings, were those grown in substrate 3. Regardless of substrate, the highest number of cuttings per square foot was obtained from stock plants grown in 3-qt containers, indicating that the smaller containers allow for the most efficient use of space when growing mojave sage stock plants for 4 to 6 months. The rooting of vegetative cuttings was successful (88% to 100% of cuttings rooted after 4 weeks under mist) for all treatment combinations.