SHOOT AND ROOT RESPONSES OF 8 SUBTROPICAL SPECIES GROWN IN CUPRIC HYDROXIDE-TREATED CONTAINERS

The effect of Cu(OH)(2) applied to interior container surfaces on shoo t and root responses was evaluated on eight species cultivated in subt ropical regions, Species studied were Cedrela odorata L,; Eriobotrya j aponica (Thunb.) Lindl,; Leea coccinea Planch.; Peperomia serpens (Swa rtz,) Loud.; Peperomia obtusifolia (L.) A. Dietr.; Radermachera sinica (Hance) Hensl.; Schefflera actinophylla (Endl,) Harms; and Swietenia mahagoni (L.) Jacq. No foliar Cu toxicity symptoms developed on any sp ecies during the study, Swietenia mahagoni seedlings grew faster in he ight and had larger shoot : root ratios when grown in Cu(OH)(2)-treate d containers than in nontreated containers. Leea coccinea seedlings we re taller and produced more shoot dry weight when grown in Cu(OH)(2)-t reated than in control containers. Applying Cu(OH)(2) did not influenc e shoot growth of the other six species studied. Root coverage reducti on on the exterior of the rootball in Cu(OH)(2)-treated containers was excellent for all species studied, and coverage was completely elimin ated in three species. Shoot and root responses to Cu(OH)(2)-treated c ontainers varied among subtropical species, which is consistent with s hoot and root responses among temperate species.