Plant growth regulators such as daminozide can help growers improve the durability of protected ornamental plants, minimising stem damage during transport and retail.
Daminozide, active ingredient of B-Nine® by Arysta LifeScience, inhibits the production of gibberellins, the plant hormones responsible for cell elongation at growing tips. This reduces the internode length, so plants are more compact, robust and able to withstand transport stresses, while also being more durable for retail.
Arysta LifeScience Product Development & Technical Manager for UK & Ireland, Don Pendergrast, said: “Reducing apical dominance encourages lateral shoots and flowers, producing a more compact and attractive plant for the retail market. Not only are plants more attractive, but stem breakage and damage through transportation is reduced. Plants can also be maintained at their optimum market size for longer periods and root growth is improved.”
B-Nine has a variety of uses for the protected ornamental market, including pot plants, bedding plants, ornamental shrubs and cut flowers. It is absorbed within 12 hours after application and is translocated in the plant tissues.
Don added: “For ornamental plant growers, appearance is everything. Plant growth regulators are a very useful tool and give reassurance that plants will withstand the rigours of the retail market.”
B-Nine is a water-soluble transparent granule, suitable for single or multiple use on a range of protected plants including poinsettia, hydrangea, azalea, gardenia and potted chrysanthemum.
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