Abstract

Soaking French marigold seeds in growth regulator solutions produced larger reductions in seedling height than foliar sprays. Seeds soaked in 1 to 5 ppm uniconazole solutions for 0.15, 5, or 45 min resulted in plants that were up to 23% shorter than controls at 30 DAS, whereas foliar applications of 10 to 20 ppm uniconazole solutions resulted in plants 18% shorter than controls at 14 DAS. French marigold seedlings from seeds soaked in 60 pm ancymidol for 5 or 45 min were 5 or 6%, respectively, shorter than controls. Foliar spray applications of 25 or 100 ppm ancymidol to French marigold seedlings resulted in plants 8% shorter than controls. Chlormequat solutions applied either as a seed soak (1000–5000 ppm) or foliar spray (500–3000 ppm) did not reduce French marigold seedling height. Emergence of French marigold seedlings from seeds soaked in uniconazole, ancymidol, or chlormequat solutions was not different from that of control seeds. No effect on seedling height or emergence was found when soaking celosia seeds in uniconazole, ancymidol, or chlormequat solutions. Spraying celosia seedlings with uniconazole, ancymidol, or chlormequat solutions did not reduce seedling height.