Chang-Hak Choi

Effects of Boron Applications on Flower Spike Dieback of Statice (Limonium spp.)

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of boron treatments on flower spike dieback of Statice (Limonium spp.) grown in soilless hydroponic and soil cultures under rain shelter system. The growth of Statice was gradually improved with increasing boron applications in the hydroponics, but not in soil culture with boron treatment as foliar spray or soil application. The degree of flower spike dieback in 6 levels (0, no dieback incidence to 5, very severe dieback incidence) ranged between 0.5 with boron application and 4.4 with no boron treatment. The content of boron in Statice flower spike increased with increasing rates of boron applications in the hydroponics, but the contents of P, Mg, and N were not affected by the boron application. However, K content was highest with no boron treatment. In soil culture, incidence of flower spike dieback decreased with foliar spray or soil application of boron. Therefore, boron application was effective in reducing flower spike dieback and improving cut-flower productivity and its quality, and the recommended rates of boron application were 50~80 ug L -1 for hydroponics culture whereas 0.2% borex or ≥0.4 kg 10a -1 boric acid by foliar spray application for soil culture.

First Report of Stem Rot in Statice Caused by Rhizoctonia solani in Korea

Stem rot of perennial statice (Limonium sinuatum) was observed in Un bong, Jeonbuk from 2006 to 2007. Affected plants were randomly distributed in the greenhouses and infection rate was more than 10%. Stem and leaf of statice at soil line were dried and turned brown, initially. As the disease became severe, other stem parts and crowns were turned dark brown and then sunken. The fungal isolates were showed initially white aerial mycelium and turned brown with age. They produced few sclerotia which small, irregularly shaped with pinpoint sized. Mycelia were branched at angles and multinucleate in one cell. The pathogenicity of causal organism was proved according to Koch`s postulates. The causal fungus of stem rot was identified as Rhizoctonia solani based on the cultural and morphological characteristics. This is the first report on stem rot of statice by R. solani in Korea.

Growth and Cut-Flower Productivity of Spray Rose as Affected by Shading Method during High Temperature Period

Abstract: This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of shading materials (aluminum specific-shading screen and polypropylene non-woven fabric) and shading ratio (50% and 70%) on climatic changes, cut-flower quality, and yield of spra y rose cultivars for export during high temperature periods. The daily cumulative solar radiations were higher with the aluminum specific-shading screen, especially with 50% shading compared to polypropylene non-woven fabric. Air temperature and root zone temperature within rockwool media greatly decreased with the aluminum specific-shading screen, but relative air humidit y was not different among shading methods. Chlorophyll contents (SPAD values) were slightly higher with aluminum-specific shadin g screen than with polypropylene non-woven fabric, and were higher with 50% than with 70% aluminum specific-shading screen. Except for ‘Lovely Lydia’, marketable and exportable yields of all cultivars were higher with 50% than with 70% aluminum shading treatment I.n addition ,flower stalk length ,stem diameter n,umber of node and 7ea-leaflet a,nd floret number tended to be better with aluminum specific-shading screen. Flower stalk length was higher with 70% than with 50% aluminum shadin g treatment. Chromaticity of petals slightly increased, and vase life was 0.5-2.5 days longer for each cultivar with aluminum specific-shading screen than with polypropylene non-woven fabric.Additional key words: