Abstract

Benzyladenine (BA) is a synthetic cytokinin that promotes lateral shoot development in herbaceous and woody ornamentals and may be a viable alternative to mechanical pruning in nursery production. A study was conducted to determine the effects of BA application number, interval and concentration on two Indian hawthorn [Rhaphiolepis Lindl. Cor. Poir. indica (L.) Lindl. (Crataegus indica L.)] cultivars. In spring 2002, actively growing ‘Olivia’ and ‘Eleanor Taber’ received three applications of 2500 or 5000 ppm BA at a one-, two-, or three-week interval. Data collected four weeks after initial treatment (WAT) reflected the effects of one, two, or three BA applications at each concentration. At this time new shoot counts in both cultivars and foliar injury in ‘Olivia’, but not in ‘Eleanor Taber’, increased with increasing number of applications and BA concentration. Data collected 12 WAT reflected the effects of BA application interval and concentration. At this time new shoot counts increased with decreasing application interval in ‘Olivia’, while ‘Eleanor Taber’ formed the most new shoots when BA was applied at a two-week interval. All treated plants sustained minimal to moderate injury to immature foliage. The experiment was repeated in 2003 using 1750 ppm and 3500 ppm BA on ‘Olivia’ Indian hawthorn. Applications were halted at the first sign of foliar injury resulting in plants treated at one, two, and three-week intervals receiving three, two, and two applications, respectively. New shoot counts on ‘Olivia’ treated at the three application intervals were similar, but greater than those on untreated plants. Control plants had a foliar injury rating similar to that of plants treated at a two or three-week interval, but less than that of plants treated at a one-week interval. Growth index was not affected by treatment in either year.