MANIPULATION OF FLOWERING AND VEGETATIVE GROWTH OF BROWN BORONIA (BORONIA-MEGASTIGMA NEES) AND WHITE MYRTLE (HYPOCALYMMA-ANGUSTIFOLIUM ENDL) USING PLANT-GROWTH REGULATORS

Plant growth regulators had a variety of effects on growth and flowering of Brown Boronia and White Myrtle. Morphactin, TIBA and benzyladenine stimulated lateral vegetative growth in warm conditions. Benzyladenine treatment of plants decreased the number of weeks of cool conditions (17-degrees-C day/9-degrees-C night) required to reach anthesis in both species, in Brown Boronia reducing the number of weeks required from 22 to 14. Paclobutrazol also decreased the number of weeks to anthesis in Brown Boronia and increased the percentage of axils with flowers. Paclobutrazol enabled White Myrtle plants to flower in an environment considered non-inductive for flowering. Many treatments that encouraged vigorous vegetative growth inhibited flowering in both species. The timing of growth regulator treatment in relation to flower evocation, and the environment in which the plants are growing can greatly influence the response of these species to plant growth regulator treatment.