The Effect of Silicon Foliar Application on the Development of Season Ornamental Plants
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ACTA AGROBOTANICA Vol. 64 (4): 107–114 2011 THE EFFECT OF SILICON FOLIAR APPLICATION ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF SEASON ORNAMENTAL PLANTS. PART II: Argyranthemum frutescens ‘Blazer Rose’, Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Gold’, Osteospermum ecklonis ‘Grande Pink Blush’ AND Gaura lindheimeri ‘Corinas Choice’ Katarzyna Wróblewska, Regina Dębicz Department of Horticulture, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwladzki 24 A, 50-363 Wrocław, Poland e-mail: [email protected] Received: 17.06.2011 Abstract al. 1990). This element is also known for its stimula- Recent research has proved that supplementary applica- tion of plant resistance to fungal diseases (McAvoy tion of silicon, involved in plant tolerance against many stress and Bible, 1996; Gillman et al. 2003), insects factors, positively influences plant development improving the (Reynolds et al. 2009), and resistance to unfavo- quality of ornamental plants. A two-factorial experiment involved urable environmental conditions, among others, too four cultivars of ornamental plants: Argyranthemum frutescens low temperature or water deficit. One of the mecha- ‘Blazer Rose’, Xerochrysum bracteatum ‘Gold’, Osteosper- nisms for supporting plants under water stress condi- mum ecklonis ‘Grande Pink Blush’, and Gaura lindheimeri tions is decreased transpiration resulting in reduction ‘Corinas Choice’ The first experimental factor was the concen- in water loss, but silicon also partakes in osmoregula- tration of Actisil preparation being an equivalent of 60, 120, -3 tion, maintaining water status and adequate supply of and 180 mg Si×dm , applied three times by spraying, while the nutrients (S a c a ł a , 2009). second one was the type of medium: peat substrate and peat substrate with sand. Actisil had a beneficial effect on the number Both biotic and abiotic stress factors induce of lateral shoots in all plants. The highest number of buds and physiological disorders leading to loss in yields and, in inflorescences was determined in Xerochrysum and Osteosper- case of ornamental plants, to loss of decorative value. mum plants sprayed with 0.3% Actisil, and 0.2% Actisil in case Although silicon is not an indispensable element for the of Argyranthemum and Gaura. The effect of medium type on growth and development of higher plants, according to plant growth depended on plant species. Argyranthemum and Epstein (2009), under stress conditions additional Osteospermum plants cultivated in the medium with sand sho- treatment with silicon may cause a big difference in wed inhibited growth, although medium type did not affect the their performance. It is particularly important in glas- growth of Xerochrysum. shouse production as it involves cultivation of plants in soiless media which do not contain silicon. Additional Key words: silicon, seasonal flowering plants, growth, treatment with Si does not cause severe injury to plants flowering as its excessive amounts may be secreted. The main form of silicon, available to plants, is orthosilicic acid, absorbed by plants and precipitated INTRODUCTION throughout the plant as amorphous silica (Richmond Silicon, a chemical element commonly occur- and Sussman, 2003). In case of ornamental plants, ring in nature, has a positive effect on plant develop- this element is also applied in the form of silicates, e.g. ment and resistance. Its properties include the benefi- potassium silicate and sodium silicate as drenches or cial effect on the ionic balance in plants, reducing toxic foliar applications, and it can be also added to medium effects of manganese and iron excessive amounts, as mixtures, e.g. in the form of rice husk ash (Frantz et well as reinforcement of cell walls (Marschner et al. 2005; Kamenidou et al. 2008, 2010). 108 Katarzyna Wróblewska, Regina Dębicz The aim of the research was to assess the effect beneficial effect of orthosilicic acid contained in Ac- of orthosilicic acid contained in Actisil preparation as tisil preparation on the number of lateral shoots in all well as two types of soil on growth and flowering of plant species selected for the experiment. Irrespective selected decorative plants for balconies and terraces. of type of medium and year of experiment, the higher was the concentration of Actisil, the better tillering of MATERIALS AND METHODS Argyranthemum (Table 1) and Xerochrysum plants (Table 2) was found. In the years 2009-2010, an experiment was car- In Osteospermum, the two highest concentra- ried out aiming to assess the effect of Actisil prepara- tions proved to be the most desired ones – they strongly tion, containing 0.6% of silicon in the form of H4SiO4, affected, in the same way, the number of lateral shoots on growth and development of four seasonal species: (Table 3) – while in Gaura the highest number of lat- Boston daisy Argyranthemum frutescens (L.) Sch. Bip. eral shoots was produced due to spraying with Actisil ‘Blazer Rose’, paper daisy Xerochrysum bracteatum of 0.2% concentration (Table 4). As its concentration (Vent.)Tzvelev ‘Gold’, African daisy Osteospermum increased, this preparation more evidently affected lat- ecklonis (DC.) Norl. ‘Grande Pink Blush’, and Gaura eral shoot elongation in paper daisy and Gaura. In the lindheimeri Engelm. et A.Gray ‘Corinas Choice’. case of Argyranthemum, longer lateral shoots were re- Treatments as well as data recording and ana- corded in plants sprayed with higher concentrations of lysis followed those presented in Part I of the article. Actisil, while in Osteospermum only 0.3% solution of this preparation resulted in shoot elongation (Table 3). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The number of African daisy and paper daisy inflorescences increased according to the increase in The influence of silicon on plant development concentration of fertilizer solution and it was connect- depends on, among others, cultivation conditions and ed with longer shoots. In the same taxa, Actisil extend- plant species. Among higher plants, some monocotyle- ed the diameter of inflorescences (Fig. 1). This finding dons, e.g. the Gramineae (Poaceae) which accumulate confirms the research results obtained so far, as the high amounts of silicon (more than 1% of dry mass) beneficial effect of silicon on inflorescence diameter (M a and Yamaji 2008), show a good response to has been proved in case of some species of the same silicon treatment, whereas Dicotyledones are believed family Asteraceae, such as sunflower Helianthus an- to be non-accumulators of Si. For this reason, mono- nuus L. (Kamenidou et al. 2008; Carvalho et cots have become the main object of silicon research, al. 2009), zinnia Zinnia (Kamenidou et al. 2009), with special focus on rice. Apart from these observa- and gerbera Gerbera (Savvas et al. 2002; Kame- tions, some dicotyledons, like Aster, are beneficially nidou et al. 2010). Regardless of its concentration, affected by Si treatment (F rantz et al. 2005). this preparation stimulated flowering of Gaura, yet One of the criteria of the plant growth rate is the highest number of flowers was produced by plants their height. It has been assumed that more intensive treated with 0.2% solution of Actisil (Fig.2). The prep- development produce plants of increased height. Yet, in aration at the same concentration had a beneficial ef- the case of numerous ornamentals, taller plants are not fect on the number and diameter of Argyranthemum the most desired ones. Compact plants showing consid- erable tillering are often regarded as the most attractive. inflorescences. On the other hand, at a concentration of This requirement is especially important in the case of 0.1% Actisil inhibited flowering of this variety. These pot-grown ornamentals. According to Startek et two taxa had larger flowers only under the influence al. (2006), silicon contained in Actisil preparation of the highest concentration of the preparation (0.3%). improves plant habit of pot-grown chrysanthemums, Actisil significantly regulated the height of stimulating shoot elongation of varieties characterized such plants as Xerochrysum and Gaura. This param- by moderate growth and inhibiting excessive extension eter showed higher values according to the increase in of shoots in varieties showing such a tendency. It also Actisil concentration. Under the influence of Actisil, improves the quality of garden pansy Viola x wittrock- higher plants were also characterized by a larger plant iana (Wraga and Dobrowolska, 2007). diameter. Similar results, regarding the application Abundant flowering is extremely important for of Actisil, also introduced three times, were obtained plants with decorative flowers, which results, among for multiflora rose Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murray others, from the degree of tillering. One of the most (Hetman et al. 2007). Boston daisy sprayed with significant factors stimulating lateral bud development Actisil at a concentration of 0.3% reached a 1.7 times is the cytokinin level in shoots. It was detected that larger diameter. A similar phenomenon – an increased foliar treatment with silicon could increase the level of diameter of plants obtained by treatment with 0.2% cytokinin in wheat plants (Hanafy Ahmed et al. Actisil – was observed in garden pansy (Wraga and 2008). In both years of our experiment, we proved the Dobrowolska, 2007). Osteospermum showed The effect of silicon foliar application on the development of season ornamental plants. Part II: Argyranthemum frutescens... 109 only a slight influence of this preparation as far as no effect was recorded of Actisil on chlorophyll