Studies of the vegetative development of Protea cv. Sylvia and Cardinal

Date
1999-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH SUMMARY: The high establishment cost of growing proteas under intensive cultivation has necessitated young plant management to attain an economically viable crop as soon as possible after planting. Rooted cuttings of Protea cv. Sylvia (P. eximia x P. susannae) were planted and shoots were pinched and topped at various growth stages to increase the vegetative complexity of the plants during the first growing season. During the second growing season, one-year-old plants of Protea cv. Sylvia were pruned in early spring, and the resultant regrowth thinned to between three and six shoots per bearer or left unthinned. Plants which were not pinched or topped during the first growing season, grew a single stem; pinching after the spring flush resulted in an average of 4.34 shoots forming while not pinching the spring flush, but topping after the summer flush resulted in an average of 6.82 shoots forming by late summer. Pinching both the spring and summer flushes resulted in an average of 8.84 shoots per plant. One-year-old Sylvia plants, pruned in early spring, produced an average of 5.5 shoots per bearer. Where all the shoots were left, some became dominant and the remainder became weak, spindly, non-flowering shoots. Thinning the sprouts on the bearers in the spring to 3, 4 or 5 shoots per bearer, did not result in longer shoots or a higher percentage of flowering shoots than leaving 6 shoots per bearer. Whole shoots of Protea cv. Sylvia (P. eximia x P. susannae) and Pro tea cv. Cardinal (P. eximia x P. susannae) plants were sampled at the conclusion of each successive growth flush over a period of one growing season. The dry mass of leaves and stems of each flush was measured separately and a sample analysed for total sugars and starch concentrations. Total dry mass of both stems and leaves of 'Sylvia' and 'Cardinal' remained similar during growth of the spring and first summer flushes and then increased significantly during the formation of the second summer flush and the autumn flush. The concentration of carbohydrates (total sugars and starch combined) in the leaves and stems of the whole shoot, increased significantly from one flush to the next, up to and including the second summer flush. The concentration of carbohydrates in the leaves of the whole shoot was significantly reduced after the winter, while in the stems the concentration remained similar. Total sugars and starch concentrations in the leaves of both 'Sylvia' and 'Cardinal' were significantly higher than in the stems on all flushes. The dry mass, concentration of starch and concentration of total sugars of different plant parts of Protea cv. Sylvia were measured at two sampling dates. Plants were grown for two years in 101 bags in a nursery. During July and September, whole plants were sampled, dissected into leaves, shoots, stem (trunk) and roots and laboratory analysed for dry mass, starch and sugars. The two sampling dates corresponded to the end of active vegetative shoot growth in early winter and its resumption in spring. In all plant parts monitored, dry mass did not increase significantly from one sampling date to the next. Tissue content of both total sugars and starch in the leaves represented half the amount of the total plant at both sampling dates. Significant increases in the concentration and tissue content of total sugars were noted in the leaves, shoots and roots between the first and second sampling dates. In the case of starch a significant increase in concentration and tissue content was noted in the leaves and a decrease in the stem.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoe vestigings kostes betrokke by die intensiewe verbouing van proteas noodsaak jong plant bestuur om 'n ekonomies betekenisvolle oes te behaal so gou moontlik na plant. Bewortelde steggies van Protea cv. Sylvia (P. eximia x P. susannae) is geplant en die lote se groeipunte is op verskillende groei stadia getop of terug gesny om vegetatiewe kompleksiteit van die plante in die eerste groeiseisoen te verhoog. Gedurende die tweede groeiseisoen is een-jaar-oue plante van Protea cv. Sylvia in die vroee lente gesnoei en die nuwe groei is dan uitgedun na tussen drie en ses lote per draer, of dit is ongedun gelos. Plante wat nie getop of terug gesny was in die eerste groei seisoen nie, het 'n enkele loot geproduseer; lote wat na die lente groeistuwing getop is het 'n gemiddeld van 4.34 lote geproduseer terwyl lote waar die lente groeistuwing nie getop is nie, maar wat weI terug gesny is na die somer groeistuwing het gemiddeld 6.82 lote geproduseer teen laat somer. Waar beide die lente en somer groeistuwings getop is, het die plante gemiddeld 8.84 lote geproduseer. Een-jaar-oue Sylvia plante wat in die vroee lente gesnoei is het gemiddeld 5.5 lote per draer geproduseer. Waar al die lote behou is, het sommig het 'n enkele loot geproduseere lote dominant geraak en ander was swak, nie blommende lote. Uitdun van die knoppe in die vroee lente na 3, 4 of 5 per draer, het nie gelei tot langer lote of 'n hoer persentasie blommende lote as waar 6 lote gelos is nie. Intakte lote van Pro tea cv. Sylvia (P. eximia x P. susannae) en Protea cv. Cardinal (P. eximia x P. susannae) plante is versamel aan die einde van elke opeenvolgende groeistuwing oor 'n periode van een groei seisoen. Die droee massa van die blare en stele van elke groeistuwing is apart gemeet en 'n monster is geanaliseer vir totale suiker en stysel konsentrasie. Totale droee massa van beide stele en blare van 'Sylvia' en 'Cardinal' het eeners gebly gedurende die lente en eerste somer groeistuwings en het dan betekenisvol toegeneem met die ontwikkeling van die tweede somer groeistuwing en die herfs groeistuwing. Die konsentrasie koolhidrate (totale suikers en stysel gekombineer) in die blare en stele van intakte lote het betekenisvol toegeneem van een groeistuwing na die volgende, tot en met die tweede somer groeistuwing. Die konsentrasie van koolhidrate in die blare van die hele lote was betekenisvol minder in die winter, terwyl die konsentrasie in die stele dieselfde gebly het. Totale suikers en stysel in die blare van beide 'Sylvia' en 'Cardinal' was by al die flushes betekenisvol hoer as in die stele. Die droee massa, konsentrasie stysel en konsentrasie totale suiker van die verskillende plant dele van Protea cv. Sylvia is bepaal op twee datums. Plante is twee jaar lank· gekweek in 101 sakke in 'n kwekery. Gedurende Julie en September, is intakte plante versamel, opgedeel in blare, stele, starn en wortels en geanaliseer vir droee massa, stysel en suikers. Die twee datums het ooreengestem met die einde van aktiewe vegetatiewe lootgroei in die vroee winter en die begin van lootgroei in die lente. In al die plant dele wat gemonitor is het droee massa nie betekenisvol toegeneem tussen die twee datums nie. Die inhoud van beide totale suikers en stysel in die blare het die helfde van die totale hoeveelheid in die plant verteenwoordig by albei datums. Betekenisvolle toenames is getoon in die konsentrasie en totale inhoud van totale suikers in die blare, stele en wortels tussen die eerste en die tweede datums. In die geval van stysel is 'n betekenisvolle toename in die konsentrasie en totale inhoud van blare opgemerk, asook 'n afname in die starn.
Description
Thesis (M.Sc Agric.) -- University of Stellenbosch, 1999.
Keywords
Protea -- Growth, Protea -- Pruning, Dissertations -- Horticulture
Citation