OHP adds Dr. Carlos Bogràn to tech team
October 31, 2012
OHP Inc. announces the addition of Dr. Carlos Bográn to its team of horticulture professionals.
Bográn assumes the role of OHP Technical Manager with focus on fungicide and insecticide support and development.
He joins OHP after 11 years as assistant and then associate professor and extension specialist in the departments of entomology and plant pathology, and microbiology at Texas A&M’s AgriLife Extension Service in Bryan, TX. In that role, Bográn conducted applied research and directed state-wide education programs.
“We are thrilled to add Carlos to the OHP family,” notes Dan Stahl, OHP VP of marketing and business development.
“He brings unique skills to our company with his breadth of knowledge on insecticides and fungicides,” notes Stahl. “Plus he is fluent in Spanish which is critical in today’s world of horticulture.”
Bográn holds a doctorate degree in entomology from Texas A&M University and a master’s degree in entomology from Iowa State University.
In his 18 years in agricultural research and extension, Bográn has authored close to 100 articles in industry and scientific journals and extension publications.
He will assume some of the duties of OHP Director of Technical Services Jeff Dobbs, who is retiring effective Dec. 31, 2012.
“Jeff’s contributions to OHP are far-reaching,” notes Stahl. “We wish him all the best in his retirement.”
David Barcel, OHP senior technical manager, will work in tandem with Bográn and continue to focus his efforts on herbicides and plant growth regulator (PGR) research and development.
OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the nursery, greenhouse and associated markets.
Terrazole still the most effective Pythium fungicide on Ornamentals
October 10, 2012
IR-4 studies conclude that Terrazole remains the most effective fungicide on Pythium species attacking ornamentals. Aliette continues to perform.
“Source- Chase Research Newsletter October 2012”
PGR’s for Woody Nursery Plants
March 9, 2012
Do you need to use plant growth regulators (PGRs) in a traditional outdoor nursery? 
Let’s go back 10 years when the traditional plants grown in container nurseries were hollies, junipers and other hardwood plants, and the answer would probably be no. PGR use has been an increasing part of the greenhouse industry, primarily aimed at flowering plants.
Fast forward to today and many of the larger container nurseries have moved away from the traditional woody crops and are now focusing on flowering crops. Examples are the explosion of roses, hydrangeas, buddleias, sages and other blooming plants. While many of these are true perennials, they are being grown as annuals in more northern climates for mixed containers, such as dracaena spikes, which were rarely seen outside of tropical areas or interiorscapes. And many of the larger nurseries are now more than 50 percent color crops as opposed to traditional woody plants.
According to Joyce Latimer of Virginia Tech, most of the PGR questions she gets are from nursery operations. She credits this with the expanded production of blooming perennials and especially the use of PGRs on the less herbaceous crops like hydrangeas and roses. Another factor is that the greenhouse grower is more familiar with PGRs and has more established routines or programs.
New market
Many of the current and newly introduced perennials have a lot of color and are changing the marketplace. Most need some sort of help to increase flower production or shorten plants to aid in shipping and handling.
Rosemary plug treated four weeks after Augeo treatment. (L-R) 0 ppm, 400 ppm, 800 ppm, 1,600 ppm. Photo courtesy of Joyce Latimer
Since we don’t want our plants to look like they came from the ditch, we must use measures to improve quality. Growers can either use hand labor to pinch or trim plants, or explore the use of PGRs to increase the quality of their perennial and woody crops. Since quality labor is increasingly expensive, you may very well want to explore the use of PGRs for your crops. Most of the factors involved with these products hold true when used on either herbaceous or woody species, but not always. So seek advice before you begin using them.“I am now growing plants for sale that were weeds in the ditch growing up in southern Missouri,” said Matt Chambers of Stark Bro’s Nurseries in Louisiana, Mo.
A PGR primer
The commercial PGR products fall into six or seven different groups. The main mode of action group is the GA (gibberellic acid) inhibitors. These products inhibit the natural production of GA. All of these products act to hold or reduce internode stretch of plant stems. They can be divided into three basic groups based on their activity or residual action. Group 1 consists of Cycocel and B-Nine—they belong to the ammonium class and are considered as low level of activity.
A-Rest and Topflor belong to the pyrimidine class and are generally considered as medium level of activity.
The highest level of activity and residual action products are members of the triazole class. 
Common products are Paczol, Bonzi and Sumagic, and are generally used at very low ppm rates.
The cyclohexaketones are a relatively new class to the ornamental market. Augeo is a new product in this class. The function of Augeo is to trick the plant into thinking it has been pinched to release the lateral shoots. Unlike manual or chemical pinching, Augeo will cause slight yellowing in the apical tips but generally does not abort the tip or flowers. Augeo has been on the market for just a few years and work is very encouraging on perennials.
The third group is the fatty acids such as Off-Shoot O. Their function is to “burn” the tip tissue to perform a classic chemical pinch. Affected tissue generally browns up and then drops off similar to the effect of a manual pruning.
The GA class is generally regarded as growth promoters. The two main products are ProGibb T&O (GA3) and Fascination (a combination of GA 4+7 and benzyladenine). They can be used to correct an overdose of the GA inhibitors or to increase stem elongation where desired.
Ethylene promoters are classified as acids and increase ethylene production in plants. Florel formulations are the main products. They act to disrupt or over-ripen terminal tissues, thus releasing lateral buds. Care must be used if applied too close to flowering, as ethylene can abort flowers.
The rooting hormones are synthetic auxins. Major products are Hormodin and Dip N Grow. Auxins stimulate root production; therefore these products are used for rooting purposes. Herbaceous plants need just a little auxin to promote rooting, while woody plants will require higher levels of auxin to promote rooting.
Roses 4 weeks after Uniconazole treatment. (L-R) 0 ppm, 15 ppm, 30 ppm, 45, ppm, 60 ppm. Photo courtesy of Joyce Latimer
A new PGR under development is Con-Tego from Valent. It is an abscisic acid (ABA). It is being evaluated for its effect on leaf stomates, the pore cells found on the underside of leaf. By regulating these pores, the plant can withstand dry periods better. Simply stated, the plant needs less water. Commercial interest would be in extending shelf life for plants at the retail level.
While knowledge about using PGRs in nurseries is always expanding, there are numerous university sources of information available to growers including Virginia Tech (http://pubs.ext.vt.edu/430/430-103/430-103_pdf.pdf) and Michigan State http://hrt.msu.edu/floraoe/pgrinfo/).
Paul Pilon offers extensive advice on the culture of perennials including PGRs in his book Perennial Solutions. OHP Inc. (formerly Olympic Horticultural Products) has also made its iPhone PGR calculator app and OHP PGR Solutions available free to growers.
Article by: Andy Seckinger
OHP announces new revised Kontos® label
February 15, 2012
The Kontos® Insecticide/Miticide label has been recently revised to help increase product 
performance. Soil drench application rates have been increased and thrips and scale crawlers have been added to the label.
Kontos has unique features that set it apart from most other products such as true up-and-down movement in the plant. It is both foliar and root absorbed.
Kontos is phloem-active, meaning users can foliar-apply (spray) and be assured that the active ingredient (spirotetramat) will move down in the plant. When applied as a foliar spray, a spreader-sticker may improve performance.
Growers can also soil drench Kontos and because it is xylem-active, the active ingredient will move up systemically through the roots to the growing tips. Soil drench rates have been increased to offer better control of hard-to-control insect pests.
“The best way to use Kontos is early in the crop cycle when insect populations are low and the product has time to work,” notes OHP Director, Technical Services Jeff Dobbs. Dobbs notes that Kontos moves slowly throughout the plant. Users may not see results for 10 days to two weeks, depending on the plant and pest combination, he adds.
Kontos may be sprayed on bedding plant plugs while still in trays. This new application strategy takes advantage of the foliar systemic action and also saves the grower time and money.
“Plugs sprayed at this time will usually have 3 to 4 weeks of control which gives the root system time to develop,” says Dobbs.
An application of an alternate Mode of Action (MOA) systemic insecticide like Marathon® will then eliminate most of the insect pests in a typical bedding plant crop cycle.
OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market.
OHP once again to participate in California Spring Trials
February 8, 2012
We are pleased to note that OHP will again be part of the upcoming California Spring Trials March 23-31, 2012.
OHP will be showcasing the results of its plant growth regulators (PGR) on perennials and annuals such as lantana, geranium, petunia, calibrachoa, sedum and pennisetum (grass) at American Takii in Salinas.
In addition, OHP will demonstrate the effect of its PGR Augeo® on no-pinch poinsettias.
OHP Senior Technical Manager Dave Barcel will coordinate the display, evaluating the performance of the OHP’s PGRs B-Nine®, Cycocel®, Paczol® and Augeo on the many quality varieties of American Takii.
“We feel very privileged to be able to be a small part of the event,” notes Barcel, who will be participating in his 17th Spring Trial. “American Takii has graciously agreed to provide us an expanded demonstration area for this year’s trials. They are a great host and destination spot.”
The annual event draws attendees from throughout the world as participating companies feature the latest in genetics and plant materials.
Watch a video with Dave Barcel at last years California Spring Trials.
OHP is a leading marketer of pest control solutions to the production ornamentals market.
(B-Nine and Paczol are registered trademarks of Chemtura Corporation. Cycocel is a registered trademark of BASF Corp. Augeo is a registered trademark of OHP, Inc.)