Abstract
Celery (Apium graveolens L.) plants cv. Jason overwintered in a polythene tunnel flowered earlier and grew taller than similar plants given a 10-week cold-treatment at 5°C prior to transplanting in the same tunnel in mid-February. However, there was no significant difference in the yield of seeds obtained from both treatments, plants grown at a density of 4m-2 yielded less seeds than those at 2m-2, though the yield per unit area was slightly higher from the high density treatment. Treatment with 100 mgl-1 GA3 applied twice just prior to flowering and during anthesis increased flower stalk, flower pedicel and stamen length but delayed flower opening and seed ripening and decreased seed set and seed yield. Treatment with a mixture of 1000 mgl-1 GA4 and GA7 plus 1000 mgl-1 ethephon on three occasions during seed ripening decreased seed yield and reduced seed germination though those seeds capable of germinating were less dormant than seeds from untreated plants. The size distribution of seeds was unaffected by any treatment other than the preseeding spray with GA3 which reduced the percentage of medium-size seeds.
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Thomas, T.H., Rankin, W.E.F. Overwintering and growth regulator treatment effects on celery (Apium graveolens L.) flowering and seed production. Plant Growth Regul 7, 129–138 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025207
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00025207