SEQUENTIAL BA APPLICATIONS ENHANCE OFFSET FORMATION IN HOSTA

A study conducted in 1995 and repeated in 1996 determined the effects of repeated BA applications and subsequent repeated removals on yields of offsets in Hosta Tratt, (Funkia K. Spreng; Niobe Salisb.) stock pl ants, Two hosta cultivars,'Francee' and 'Francis Williams', received z ero, one, two, three, or four foliar applications of benzyladenine (BA ) at 3000 mg.L-1. Plants receiving multiple applications were retreate d at 30-day intervals following offset removal from all plants. A sing le BA application stimulated offset formation in both cultivars in bot h years, but repeated applications were necessary for a continued resp onse following offset removal. Total offset yield increased linearly a s the number of BA applications increased. At 120 days after the first treatment in 1995, 'Francee' plants receiving four applications had p roduced an average of 22 offsets, and 'Francis Williams' plants 18 off sets, whereas control plants produced 9.8 and 0 offsets, respectively. Similar data for 1996 were 31.2 offsets for 'Francee' and 22.4 offset s for 'Francis Williams,' whereas control plants produced 6.8 and 2.6 offsets, respectively. Offset stage of development, as indicated by le af number, and growth index generally were not affected by BA treatmen t. No phytotoxicity was observed, and plant appearance was enhanced du e to the outgrowth of BA-stimulated lateral buds. Chemical name used: N-(phenylmethyl)-1H-purin-6-amine (benzyladenine, BA).