Augeo™ improves branching on many ornamental crops
By Dave Barcel, Senior Technical Manager
OHP introduced Augeo™ PGR a year ago and we have been pleased with the excellent response to foliar applications on several crops such as fuschia, lantana, verbena, and petunia.
Augeo is a branching agent which reduces apical dominance by decreasing auxin production and allowing lower bud release.
Fuschia responds favorably to Augeo. In photo set 1 (below), you can see the positive results with fuschia applied at 800 ppm to the finished crop nine WAT (weeks after treatment).
In photo set 2 (below), Cadenza Petunias show favorable response to Augeo six WAT at 400 ppm to the finished crop.
Verbena (below) shows positive response at 400 ppm six WAT with additional breaks and branching. The difference with the verbena crop is that the application was made to the plug, not to the finished plant.
APPLICATION TO FINISHED MATERIAL
Typically, transplanted plugs or liners are allowed to establish in the finish pot for several days and then Augeo is sprayed on foliage. The crop is then allowed to finish to size.
This method works well if the grower allows ample time for finish. This is important because some crops may have a significant yellowing response from Augeo, which is normal and part of the Augeo effect. This finish method may also require a week or two of additional crop time to allow the plant to grow out of the Augeo effect.
The finish method works but we wondered if there was a way to make Augeo work better and not disrupt finish time.
PLUGS AND LINERS
The answer is yes. We found good activity from Augeo applied to plugs or liners and often at lower rates, which helps reduce the Augeo yellowing effect. This "plug/liner" application has been shown to be a great way to treat a number of plants efficiently and effectively trigger the branching effect for a number of crops.
Recent research has shown calibrachoa, petunia, verbena, ornamental rosemary, and lobelia to name a few, respond well to Augeo. Typically, Augeo will be applied at either 400 to 800 PPM (¼ to ½ fl. oz. per gal. of water) to rooted cuttings or to plugs in the last couple weeks of growth. Using this earlier approach, 400 PPM has looked good on a number of crops.
Woodier plants such as lantana or fuchsia respond better at a slightly higher dose of 800 PPM. The other benefit of this early approach is you have less yellowing to the crop and thus little disruption to crop time in finish.
TESTING CONTINUES
In conclusion, Augeo has definitely found a place on a number of crops in helping them fill out and form lateral breaks which ultimately improves crop quality for grower customers.
Our research has shown either the "finish" or the "plug and liner" application technique effectively triggers lateral breaks needed on crops like lantana, fuchsia, verbena, calibrachoa, etc. producing a better plant at finish time. We are continuing with our research on this novel PGR.