Light filter use in ornamental plant production to control plant growth and to improve plant quality
2011
Stapel, J.O. | Maugin, E. | Trihan, S. | Ferre, A.
The application of chemical growth regulators in ornamental plant production (ex. daminozide, paclobutrazol, etephon) is a common practice in obtaining compact plants, but their use poses health and environmental risks. Reduction of regulator treatment may also significantly reduce production costs in terms of labour and products. In this evaluation of 5 light filters, significantly compact ornamental and vegetable young plants were obtained using filters that increase the R/FR ratio. A filter that allows maximum UV transmission had less impact on growth in ornamental plants. These evaluations were performed under production situations in different regions in France. The light filter Solatrol appears to have the most impact on the 60 cultures tested, followed by pigments such as ReduHeat and TransPAR. An UV transparent film proved effective in growth reduction in vegetable young plant production. A correlation is found between importance of the growth regulator effect of a light filter and the somrad received during a given culture, indicating a potentially higher efficacy of R/FR filters in regions with higher light intensities. Results obtained in southern France support this finding. However, an initially high R/FR ratio obtained with a light filter declines in time as is found in Solatrol samples collected during a 3 year period. In certain growth regulator intensive cultures such as potted chrysanthemums, the return of investment of light filters may be accomplished within one year.
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