Hydroponic cultivation of Barleria obtusa: effects of B-Nine® WSG to improve its commercial value as a bedding plant

Abstract

Barleria obtusa is a fast growing, evergreen multi stemmed perennial covered with a mass of violet flowers in autumn that occur naturally in the Eastern and Northern provinces of South Africa. Because of their unique flowering time, and vigorous growth a test was conducted to determine if the growth of B. obtusa would be reduced and improve its commercial value as a bedding plant. Plants cultivated in a NFT hydroponic system, were treated with B-Nine® WSG foliar spray at concentrations of 2, 6, 10, 16 g/L (a.i.) per treatment on a weekly basis for 4 weeks, while the control remained untreated. Plant height as observed shows a significance difference between the control and treated plants with increasing the concentration applied. The control produced the most number of shoots as compared to treated plants however, the best results obtained at week 8 was treatment with 6 g/L. Compactness was measured using total surface area of the plants (a.i.) per pot and treatments with 2, 6, 10, 16 g/L were significantly different than the control. Total wet and dry weights of plants treated with the growth retardant were significantly affected than the control. With the results obtained, 6g/L showed significant results as to improve the commercial value of B. obtusa as a bedding plant.