Uniconazole Suppresses Bypass Shoot Development and Alters Flowering of Two Forcing Azalea Cultivars

Abstract

`Redwings' and `Gloria' azaleas (Rhododendron × `Redwings' and `Gloria') were treated with foliar sprays of uniconazole, paclobutrazol, or daminozide to suppress bypass shoot development and promote flower initiation and development. Uniconazole at 5 and 25 mg·liter -1 suppressed bypass shoot development of `Redwings' and `Gloria', respectively. Flowering of `Gloria', but not `Redwings', was delayed slightly with uniconazole sprays up to 25 mg·liter -1 ; with the highest uniconazole concentration, 200 mg·liter -1 , flowering was delayed as much as 18 days. Flower count of `Gloria' was not affected by lower concentrations of uniconazole, but it was greatly reduced in both cultivars with concentrations above 75 mg·liter -1 . Uniconazole was more active than paclobutrazol sprays of similar concentrations or than two daminozide sprays of 3000 mg·liter –1 . Chemical names used: (E)-1-(p-chlorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-1-penten-3-ol (uniconazole); (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-(1H-1,2,4,-triazol-l-yl-)pentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol); butanedioic acid mono(2,2-dimethylhydrazide (daminozide),