Dwarfing of Shrubs by using Chemicals

Ten species of popular flowering shrubs e.g., (1) Hibiscus rosa-sinensis var. My Beauty, (2) H. syriacus var. Double Mauve, (3) Tabernaemontana coronaria, (4) Jasminum sambac var. Khoya, (5) Ixora singaporensis, (6) Lantana camara var. Sanguinea, (7) Cestrum nocturnum (8) Galphimia gracilis, (9) Allamanda grandiflora, (10) Clerodendron macrosiphonwere grown in pots and treated with Cycocel (CCC) as foliar spray in 8000, 4000 and 2000 ppm and also as dust in the soil @ 8 gms 4 gms and 2 gms per pot.

H. rosa-sinensis and H. syriacus in all concentrations markedly inhibited shoot growth ranging from 49.8%-68.3% in case of foliar spray and 40.6%-76.5% in case of dust depending on the concentrations. Appreciable reduction ot shoot length and increased flowering were also recorded in Tabernaemontana coronaria, Jasminum sambac, Ixora singaporensis, Lantana camara, Cestrum nocturnum Mid Galphimia gracilis. Cycocel in 8000 ppm also improved flowering in Allamanda grandiflora and more than 100% increase in the number of flowers was recorded in Clerodendron macrosiphon. Inhibition of shoot growth was also observed in these two species of plant as a result of the treatment.