Fertilizer Concentration Affects Growth Response and Leaf Color of Tradescantia virginiana L.

ABSTRACT

Little information is available on greenhouse or nursery production of the herbaceous perennial Tradescantia virginiana. Three cultivars of T. virginiana were grown with four nitrogen (N) rates of 15N-6.9P-14.1K (15-16-17) in an effort to find the range of nutrition for acceptable growth and flowering. Treatments were applied in 350 mL (11.8 oz.) aliquots when plants and pots weighed 70% to 80% of saturated weight. Nitrogen rates between 100 and 200 mg L^{− 1} resulted in marketable plants. ‘Blue Stone’ was the largest cultivar, in both height (cm) and dry weight (g). Nitrogen levels of 300 mg L^{− 1} stunted the growth of ‘Blue Stone,’ while ‘Red Cloud’ and ‘Angel Eyes’ were similar in size and the highest fertilizer rate did not reduce height. Foliage of ‘Angel Eyes’ had more green coloration, while the foliage colors of ‘Red Cloud’ and ‘Blue Stone’ were lower in hue angle (hue°) and thus had more yellowish-green coloration; ‘Angel Eyes’ also had the highest chroma at the experiment's end and the most attractive foliage.

*Currently graduate research assistant in the Biological Sciences Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

Keywords:

• hue°
• chroma
• nitrogen
• perennials
• phosphorus

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Use of trade names does not imply endorsement of named products nor criticism of similar ones not named. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical assistance of Velva Groover and the statistical assistance of Dr. Richard Marini. Plant material provided by Yoder Green Leaf, Lancaster, PA.

Notes

*Currently graduate research assistant in the Biological Sciences Department, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.

^z Results from MANOVA tests of hypothesis for within-subject (measurement taken repeatedly on each plant) effects.

^y Tests the hypothesis that treatments (between-subjects effects) have no effect on the response variables, ignoring within-subject effects. This is the treatment effect when averaged over all weeks.

^z Values are means of four replicates for each treatment.

^y P values for change in plant height for adjacent weeks pooled over all treatments.

^x P values for the main effects and interactions on the change in plant height, width, and percentage of plants flowering between adjacent weeks.

^z Results from MANOVA tests of hypothesis for within-subject (measurement taken repeatedly on each plant) effects.

^y Tests the hypothesis that treatments (between-subjects effects) have no effect on the response variables, ignoring within-subject effects. This is the treatment effect when averaged over all weeks.

^z Average of four replicates for each treatment level and date.

^y P values for change in substrate pH and EC for adjacent weeks pooled over all treatments.

^x P values for the main effects and interactions on the change in substrate pH and EC between adjacent weeks.

^z Average of four replicates for each treatment level and date.

^y P values for change in hue° for adjacent weeks pooled over all treatments.

^x P values for the main effects and interactions on the change in hue° between adjacent weeks.

^z Average of four replicates for each treatment level.

^y P values for change in response variables over all treatments.

^x Tests the hypothesis that treatments (between-subjects effects) have no effect on the response variables, ignoring within-subject effects.