Flowering Regulation of Potted Bougainvillea Plants under Five Water Treatments [RESEARCH NOTE]

Authors

Kuan-Hung Lin, Department of Horticulture and Biotechnology, Chinese Culture University, Taipei 111, Taiwan
Jui-Mei Li, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, Taiwan
Chun-Wei Wu, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, TaiwanFollow
Yu-Sen Chang, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106, TaiwanFollow

Publication Date

12-1-2021

Abstract

Bougainvillea (Bougainvillea buttiana) is a very popular evergreen landscape plant in the tropical and subtropical areas. The objective of this study was to investigate the growth, flowering, and physiological performance of bougainvillea ‘Taipei Red’ cultivar in response to water-stress conditions that can potentially be used to maximize the economic efficiency and benefits in the development and ACC potential of bougainvillea plants grown in controlled environments. Potted plants were subjected to five different levels of soil VWC: 60% (control), 40%, 20%, 1/3 of leaves visually observed to be drooping (equivalent to 18% VWC), and 2/3 of leaves drooping (15% VWC). These five irrigation treatments were applied to those commercial potted plants without flowers from the beginning until the first flower buds appeared, after which normal irrigation was resumed until the end of this experiment. As VWC% decreased, shoot growth rate and days to visible first flower buds decreased. Whereas, leaf abscission, numbers of flower buds and shoots per plant, and ACC content in leaves increased. The 15% VWC irrigation treatment induced the first flower buds to become visible in fewer days and produced more flower buds and shoots and higher ACC content, but shoot growth rate and leaf abscission declined. Whereas, there were no significant differences in bract size and longevity under all %VWC water deficit irrigation treatments and control. Thus, the widely grown flowering potted bougainvillea, ‘Taipei Red’ adapts well to an irrigation schedule of 15% VWC, which can be considered an effective tool for regulating cultivation practices.

Recommended Citation

Lin, Kuan-Hung; Li, Jui-Mei; Wu, Chun-Wei; and Chang, Yu-Sen (2021) "Flowering Regulation of Potted Bougainvillea Plants under Five Water Treatments [RESEARCH NOTE]," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 104: No. 4, Article 8.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol104/iss4/8