Bulletin UASVM Horticulture, 67(1)/2010

Print ISSN 1843-5254; Electronic ISSN 1843-5394

The Influence of Fungicides as Growth Retardant on the Growth and

Flowering of Ismelia carinata Schousb.
Viktoria KOBLI, Peter HONFI, Zita FELSZNER, Andrea TILLY-MANDY
Department of Floriculture and Dendrology, Faculty of Horticultural Science, Corvinus University of
Budapest, 29-43 Villanyi Street, H-1118 Budapest, Hungary; viktoria.kobli2@uni-corvinus.hu
Abstract. In consequence of the connection of European Union, traditional plant growth
retardants will be withdrawn. Therefore, we tested the dwarfing effect of two fungicides, Bumper 25
EC and Mirage 45 EC comparing to Alar 85, a traditional growth retardant. Testplant was Ismelia
carinata, a decorative ornamental annual plant. The 6 weeks old, once pinched back plugs were
treated 3 times 3 weeks intervals with the given chemicals with the concentration advanced by the
producer. During the evaluation the height of plants, the diameter of plant bush, number of branches,
number and diameter of flowers were measured. In the aspect of plant size the most effective was Alar
85, we obtained compact, globular bushes with many lateral shoots. We did not find statistically
proved difference between the tested chemicals, nor comparing to the control. In the aspect of flower
bud number best results were obtained with Alar and Bumper, the results differed statistically from
Mirage but statistically equal with the control. There was not mentionable difference in the case of
plant diameter and number of branches.
Keywords: plant growth regulator, propiconazole (Bumper 25 EC), prochloraze (Mirage 45
EC), daminozide (Alar 85), Ismelia carinata

INTRODUCTION
In ornamental pot plant production one of the main problems by the continental
climate countries is the energy saving. From the last years our research is focused on
searching such ornamentals which can grow within a short period and can be supplementary
product for early spring production. Meantime we search for dwarfing chemicals instead of
CCC and Alar 85, the traditional plant growth retardants, that will be withdrawn soon.
Ismelia carinata Schousb., (Asteraceae) (Erhardt et al., 2008) is a decorative, modest
annual ornamental plant, propagated easily by seed sowing. This bushy plant is 50-70 to 100
cm high, it has fleshy, light green, laciniate leaves. The flowers are 7-8 cm in diameter, in
very variable colours, with a different colour ring in it (Hendy, 2004; Ksa, 2006; Sznt et
al., 2003). Starting the growth in November, with growth retardant treatment, decorative
flowering pot plant can be produced from it for April.
Previous experiments proved the growth retardant effect of some fungicides on
Impatiens walleriana and Verbena Tukana Scarlet Scarlena (Ueber, 2007), Euphorbia
Diamond Frost (Hell and Ludolph, 2007), Ranunculus Bloomingdale Pure Yellow
(Reiners, 2007) and Nemesia Sunsatia Snowberry, Diascia Elfjes Filina and Bidens
Summerlovers Top Sun (Korting, 2010). Such as Caramba SL (effective agent is
metconazole), and Folicur 25 WG (effective agent is tebuconazole) (Ocsk 2009). Jaleel et al.
(2008) produced dwarf growth of Catharanthus roseus with the use of paclobutrazole.
Bumper 25 EC is a systemic liquid fungicide, its effective agent is propiconazole
(Ocsk, 2009). Propiconazole is a kind of triazole derivative that have been recommended for

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use as either fungicide or plant growth regulator. Furthermore, triazole compounds can also
protect plants against various environmental stresses (Fletcher et al., 2000). Banko (2004)
used propiconazole for growth control of Petunia x hybrida. The plants became more
compact, the bush diameter decreased. Rajalekshmi et al., (2009) resulted decreased plant size
and increase of chlorophyll content on Plectranthus aromaticus and P. vettiveroids. Hanson et
al. (2003) proved that the length of Amaranthus retroflexus seedlings retarded significantly if
the propiconazole concentration was above 0.36 mg/l.
Mirage 45 EC is a systemic liquid fungicide with the effective agent of procloraze
(Bthory, 2004). Pocloraze belongs to the group of ergosterol-biosynthesis retardant and
besides of fungicide effect it has growth retardant effect too (Basford et al., 2010).
The daminozide containing Alar 85 (previously B-9) is a powder form growth
retardant. It is widely used in ornamental plant production for example in the case of Dahlia,
Fuchsia, Ageratum, Antirrhinum, Petunia, Salvia, Zinnia, Phlox, Nemesia and Lobelia genera
(Basford et al., 2010). Gersak et al. (2008) treated Viola x wittrockiana plants with different
concentrations and did not observed plant retardant effect comparing to the control.
Oppositely Krause et al. (2003) successfully used as dwarfing agent in the case of Tagetes
patula Jumbo Bicolor and Impatiens walleriana Impuls Orange. Furthermore, they
observed flower bud increase on Petunia x hybrida Bravo Pink. Olsen and Andersen (1995)
obtained more compact plants for Osteospermum ecklonis Calypso with Alar 85 but,
increasing the concentration, the growth changed to heterogeneous and they observed even
phytotoxicity on the leaves.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This research was carried out on at the glasshouse of the Department of Floriculture
and Dendrology, Corvinus University of Budapest between 15.11.2009 and 30.04.2010. The
chemicals were bought from the Florachem Bt. Seeds of Ismelia carinata were sawn into cell
trays separately at 15.11.2009 and were covered till the germination. Culture conditions were
15 3 C, relative air humidity approximately 60%. The seedlings were transplanted to 9 cm
pots at 26.12.2009. When the plants reached the 5-6 leaves stage they were pinched back
(06.01.2010). Plants were separated to 4 groups, 13 plant in each:
- control: spraying with tap water;
- 1. treatment: spraying with Bumper 0.5 ml/l concentration
- 2. treatment: spraying with Mirage 1 ml/l concentration
- 3. treatment: spraying with Alar 3 g/l concentration
Every chemical was used at the concentration of offered by the producing firma. Plants were
treated 3 times: first 11.01.2010, second: 01.02.2010, third: 22 02.2010. In the end of
February the flower buds were already seen on the tip of the shoots, therefore we finished the
treatments. This turned out too early.
The plants were measured 8 times from the beginning of January till the end of the
experiment, the end of April. We measured the followings: leaf length (in cm), plant height
(from the soil level to the tip of the shoot in cm), number of lateral shoots, bush diameter in
cm, number of flower buds, number of flowers and flower diameter (in cm).
Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, using one way analysis of variance
(ANOVA) followed by Welch Tests of Equality of Means and Games-Howell Multiple Range
Test. Values are given as mean for 13 samples in each group.

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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

We obtained changeable results with the chemicals used. Considering the plant growth
for the end of the experiment Alar was the only chemical that had significantly proved
dwarfing effect (Fig. 1). The plants treated with Alar grew average 50 cm high comparing to
the control 60 cm. The average plant height by the Mirage treated plant group was the biggest
(over 70 cm) but, within this group the deviation was extremely high.
80
plant height (cm)

70

60

50
40
30
20
10
0
Control

Bumper

Mirage

Alar

treatments

Fig. 1. Effect of Bumper 25 EC, Mirage 45 EC and Alar 85 on the growth of

Ismelia carinata (30.04.2010)

Values with the same letter are not statistically different (Games-Howell multiple
range test, P=0.05)
Considering the leaf size at the end of the experiment the leaf size of the treatments
differed between 5 to 5.5 cm, the results are not proved statistically.
The bush diameter of the plants differed from 22 to 25 cm. The smallest bush
developed with the spray of Alar 85 (22 cm), and the widest with the use of Mirage 45 EC (25
cm). However, this difference is mentionable in the aspect of practical growing but the results
are not proved statistically.
Considering the number of flower buds, the greatest number of flower buds were
counted by Bumper treatment, almost were 12 buds/plant (Fig. 2). This result significantly
proved higher than those plants treated with Mirage but not a proved result comparing to the
control. The average flower bud number by the group treated with Mirage was under 8, which
is significantly less than flower buds of Bumper or Alar treated groups. Nevertheless
comparing to the control the result is not significant.

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number of buds (pcs)

14

12
10

ab
a

8
6
4
2
0
Control

Bumper

Mirage

Alar

treatments

Values with the same letter are not statistically different (Games-Howell multiple range test, P=0.05)
Fig. 2. Effect of Bumper 25 EC, Mirage 45 EC and Alar 85 on the number of flowerbuds of
Ismelia carinata

After the flower buds were formed on the shoot tips we finished the treatments,
thinking that the chemicals may burn the flower buds. This decision proved to be wrong. The
plants began to flower almost one month later and during this time, the plants overgrew the
effect of treatments. Therefore, for the end of the experiment even those plant groups became
very high that had been nice compact form when treatments were going on.
CONCLUSIONS
Ismelia carinata can be a good choice for producing compact, energy-saving product
for springtime. The treatment with Bumper showed some dwarfing and flower bud forcing
effect on this species, but the concentration may have to be changed. Mirage in the examined
concentration is not suitable for growth control of Ismelia carinata. The deviance between the
plants within the treatment is so high that we refused the further examination of this chemical
as dwarfing agent.
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