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 floweri ng of Brown Boronia and White Myrtle. Morphactin, TIBA and benzyladeni ne stimulated lateral vegetative growth in warm conditions. Benzyladen ine treatment of plants decreased the number of weeks of cool conditio ns (17-degrees-C day/9-degrees-C night) required to reach anthesis in both species, in Brown Boronia reducing the number of weeks required f rom 22 to 14. Paclobutrazol also decreased the number of weeks to anth esis in Brown Boronia and increased the percentage of axils with flowe rs. Paclobutrazol enabled White Myrtle plants to flower in an environm ent considered non-inductive for flowering. Many treatments that encou raged vigorous vegetative growth inhibited flowering in both species. The timing of growth regulator treatment in relation to flower evocati on, and the environment in which the plants are growing can greatly in fluence the response of these species to plant growth regulator treatm ent.