Whole-plant Response of Easter Lilies to Ancymidol and Uniconazole

Abstract

Abstract All growth retardant treatments (ancymidol, 50 mg·liter −1 , one or two sprays; uniconazole, 5, 10, or 15 mg·liter −1 , one or two sprays; 20 mg·liter −1 , one spray) reduced Easter lily ( Lilium longiflorum Thunb.) plant heights when compared to controls. Plant heights decreased linearly with increasing concentration of uniconazole for both one- and two-spray treatments. High concentrations of uniconazole delayed anthesis; ancymidol treatments did not. Individual corolla length was not affected by treatments. Treatments did not affect daughter bulb depletion or new daughter bulb growth. Total leaf area and leaf dry weight decreased as uniconazole concentration increased; ancymidol treatments did not affect leaf area, but did reduce leaf dry weight. Leaf total soluble carbohydrate decreased with increasing concentration of uniconazole. Chemical names used: α-cyclopropyl-α-(4-methoxyphenyl)-5-pyrimidine-methanol (ancymidol); (E)-1-(p-chlorophenyI)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol (uniconazole).