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The Influence of Combined Pruning and the Use of Root Application of Two Biostimulants and Foliar Nutrition on the Growth and Flowering of Panicle Hydrangea Plants
The aim of this experiment was to assess how the interaction of two treatments influenced the growth and flowering of two varieties of Panicle hydrangea shrubs. The first treatment was plant pruning. Simultaneously, the plants received one of the three following treatments: root application of Trichoderma atroviride, root application of BlackJak biostimulant, or foliar application of a multi-component fertilizer. Simultaneous pruning and inoculation of the plants with the Trichoderma atroviride mycelium improved the length of hydrangea shoots the most, as compared with the control plants (18%). These two treatments also increased the number of flowers (16–47%, depending on the variety) and the fresh weight of plants (10–28%) compared with the control plants. T. atroviride alone improved the number of flowers in both varieties (19–24%) and the diameter of inflorescences in the ‘Silver Dollar’ one (17%). The foliar nutrition increased the fresh weight of plants by 7–57%, depending on the cultivar and pruning. It also increased the diameter and number of inflorescences in one of the varieties. Together with pruning, it intensified the growth of shoots in both cultivars (5–10%). The BlackJak biostimulant treatment gave ambiguous results. In combination with pruning, it improved the length of shoots (15%) in one cultivar and the fresh weight in the other (18%). Without pruning, the treatment increased the number of flowers (16%) and the diameter of inflorescences (9%) in one cultivar. It increased the fresh weight of plants in both cultivars (19–21%). Regardless of the other treatments, pruning increased the length of the shoots and the fresh weight of the plants. On the other hand, it reduced the number of flowers and their diameter. In most cases, the biostimulant treatment and foliar fertilization improved the growth and flowering of the plants. In combination with pruning, they improved the growth of the hydrangea shrubs but reduced the number and diameter of flowers. The simultaneous Ta treatment and pruning were the most beneficial for the growth and flowering of the panicled hydrangea plants grown in containers in a nursery.
Effect of Trichoderma spp. Fungi and Phytium oligandrum on Maiden Apple Tree Growth and Photosynthesis in the Nursery
The conducted experiment evaluated the effects of three fungi—Trichoderma atroviride (Ta), Trichoderma harzianum (Th) and Phytium oligandrum (Po)—on the growth of maidens of two apple cultivars, ‘Szampion’ and ‘Topaz’, budded on two rootstocks, M.9 and M.26, in the nursery. The evaluation was based on the number of maidens obtained and their height, trunk diameter and number and length of lateral shoots, as well as the fresh weight of the leaves and the whole maiden. For the weaker-growing maidens of the ‘Topaz’ cultivar, the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus was additionally measured depending on the rootstock and fungal treatments. The number of maidens obtained improved significantly when Th (8.3–9.0%) and Po (8.4–12.8%) were applied, depending on the rootstock and cultivar used. With the best treatment with the Po fungus, on average, for the two cultivars, maiden apple trees budded on the M.9 dwarf rootstock were characterized by a significantly better height of 6% and trunk diameter of 13% compared to the control. In contrast, trees grown on the M.26 rootstock did not have significantly increased growth after the same treatments, with the exception of the Po fungus, which improved the stem diameter by an average of 10%. The use of fungi stimulated an increase in the number and length of the lateral shoots of maidens of the more easily branching ‘Szampion’ apple tree cultivar. Based on the fluorescence parameters obtained, it can be assumed that the ‘Topaz’ cultivar on the M.26 rootstock is less susceptible to stress conditions, especially those related to high temperatures and drought. All fungi used had a positive effect on the activity of the photosynthetic apparatus. Significantly worse values of the fluorescence parameters were obtained for the control combination compared to the fungal treatments.
Comparative Study on the Effect of GiSelA 5 Rootstock Propagation Methods on Sweet Cherry Growth and Physiology
Comparison of the efficiency of synthetic auxins and biostimulants and two types of substrate in rooting of shoot cuttings in ‘Pi-ku 1’ rootstock
The low-cost propagation of semi-dwarf cherry rootstock is an essential issue in the production of maiden trees of this species. Among the promising rootstocks is ‘Pi-ku 1’, obtained in Germany. However, the possibility of its propagation using shoot cuttings has not been investigated. It was the purpose of this study. Two ways of cuttings treatment before placing them in the substrate were assessed. One used two preparations in powder (Rhizopon AA and Ukorzeniacz AB), and the second used two alcoholic auxin solutions (IAA and IBA). Instead of synthetic auxins, foliar spraying with two biostimulants was performed (Goteo and Bispeed). All the applied treatments increased the rooting percentage of ‘Pi-ku 1’ rootstock cuttings compared to the control from 5% for Rhizopon AA to 18.2% for auxin IBA. The exception was the lack of a positive effect of the Bispeed biostimulant (less than 5.2%). The use of synthetic auxins increased the number of utting roots more than three times (IBA) or almost twice (Ukorzeniacz AB) and their length more than twofold (IAA, Rhizopon AA) in proportion to the control. The effect of synthetic auxin treatments on the remaining growth parameters under study was also positive. Foliar treatment of cuttings with biostimulants did not change their growth. Only in one of the two years of the study did the fresh mass of cuttings improve after using Goteo biostimulant (7.5%). As part of the experiment, the effect of two substrate types – peat mixed with perlite and peat with sand – was also tested. During the two years of research, the cuttings were rooted several percent better in peat and sand (2.7% – 2018 and 4.4% – 2019). Using peat with sand as a rooting substrate significantly improved the number and length of roots (11.90 and 125.10) of Pi-ku 1 rootstock cuttings compared to the second one (9.23 and 109.08, respectively). All treatments applied to cuttings, except two biostimulants, increased the amount of chlorophyll in the leaves.