Growth and Stomatal Conductance of `Amate' Schefflera Using Exterior Retractable Shading

• Published in: HortScience Vol. 28; no. 5; p. 509
• Main Authors: Svenson, Sven E, Johnston, Diane L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.05.1993
• ISSN: 0018-5345; 2327-9834
• DOI: 10.21273/HORTSCI.28.5.509d

Growth and stomatal conductance of Schefflera actinophylla (Endl.) Harms `Amate' was studied in response to production shading environment. During two different growing seasons, plants grown under stationary shading (50% shade) had more shoot dry weight, were taller, and had larger stem diameters 2, 3, 4 and 5 months after potting, compared to plants grown without shading. Similarly, plants grown under retractable shading (50% shade) had more shoot dry weight, were taller, and had larger stem diameters than plants grown under stationary shading. There were no differences between plants grown under stationary or retractable shading after 5 months. Stomatal conductance of canopy-shaded foliage did not differ between plants grown under stationary or retractable shading when shading was extended or retracted. The increasing amount of foliage that becomes shaded by the canopy as the plant grows may limit the advantages of using exterior retractable shading.