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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Washington, D.C. » National Arboretum » Floral and Nursery Plants Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #267423
Title: Production of Correa 'Mannii' as a potted plant - propagation, nutrition management, and controlled flowering

Author
item LEE, JONG-SUK - Seoul Women'S University
item Roh, Mark

Submitted to: Journal of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/10/2011
Publication Date: 8/10/2011
Citation: Lee, J., Roh, M.S. 2011. Production of Correa 'Mannii' as a potted plant - propagation, nutrition management, and controlled flowering. Journal of Horticulture, Environment and Biotechnology. 52:357-368.

Interpretive Summary: There are 11 species of Australian fuchsia, Correa (Rutaceae), that occur in the eastern part of Australia. They flower naturally from late summer through autumn. Correa 'Mannii' Andr. has been cultivated in the garden, and is considered suitable for production as a flowering pot plant. Correa is generally propagated by rooting stem cuttings. There are no reports on the rooting of cuttings obtained from K-IBA spray-treated stock plants, and further details on propagation as influenced by rooting hormone treatment in Correa are not readily available. Flowering in many floral crops is influenced by temperature and photoperiod conditions. However, controlled flowering of Correa species and hybrids has not been investigated. The affects of nutrition on growth and flowering has not been investigated. The objectives of this study were to investigate (1) the effect of rooting hormone on the rooting of single node cuttings obtained from various positions on the shoots, (2) rooting of cuttings obtained from stock plants that received different fertilizer treatments, (3) the rooting hormone treatment effects, i. e., dipping vs. spraying, on the root formation, and (4) growth and flowering responses in C. ‘Mannii’ and C. reflexa as influenced by fertilizer treatments and the interaction of photoperiod and temperature. The rooting of cuttings of C. ‘Mannii’ was promoted by spraying stock plants with K-IBA and applying 1 g of slow release fertilizer (SRL) per 10-cm pot. Correa does not require high levels of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg) and Correa may not require high levels of nutrition during it’s culture or to induce flowering. The total number of flowers and shoots with flowers was not affected when plants received 2 grams of SRL. Correa ‘Mannii’ flowered freely as compared to C. reflexa and is a long day plant, requiring only 30 days of 21o/18oC and long day (LD) treatments to accelerate flowering.

Technical Abstract: Australian natives, Correa ‘Mannii’ and C. reflexa (Rutaceae), are considered suitable as a flowering pot plant. However, comprehensive information on the most effective propagation method and nutrition management and their impact on propagation and flowering is unavailable. The influence of temperature and photoperiod treatments to control flowering have not been determined. This study was initiated to propagate Correa ‘Mannii’ by the rooting of cuttings and to evaluate the effects of rooting hormone treatment and single node location on the shoot. Treatment methods such as dipping vs. spray application of the rooting hormone were evaluated. The growth and flowering responses of C. ‘Mannii’ and C. reflexa as influenced by fertilizer treatments and the interaction of photoperiod and temperature were evaluated. The rooting of cuttings of C. ‘Mannii’ was promoted by spraying stock plants with K-IBA and applying 1 g of slow release fertilizer (SRL) per 10-cm pot. Correa does not require high levels of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), or several other macro- and micro- elements for normal growth, suggesting that Correa may not require high levels of nutrition during its culture or to induce flowering. The total number of flowers and shoots with flowers was not affected when plants received 2 grams of SRL. Correa ‘Mannii’ flowered freely as compared to C. reflexa which indicates that there is significant genetic variation with respect to environmental and nutritional factors affecting flowering. Our results indicate that C. ‘Mannii’ is a long day plant, requiring only 30 days of 21o/18oC and long day (LD) treatments to accelerate flowering.