Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee

Witchhazel (Hamamelis sp.) cultivars are now available in an array of forms and flower colors, including several native, pollinator-friendly cultivars. However, little is known about response of witchhazel cultivars to powdery mildew (Podosphaera biuncinata) or the growth and flowering characteristi...

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Main Authors: Lisa W. Alexander, Anthony L. Witcher, Fulya Baysal-Gurel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS) 2019-07-01
Series:HortTechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/29/4/article-p507.xml
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author Lisa W. Alexander
Anthony L. Witcher
Fulya Baysal-Gurel
author_facet Lisa W. Alexander
Anthony L. Witcher
Fulya Baysal-Gurel
author_sort Lisa W. Alexander
collection DOAJ
description Witchhazel (Hamamelis sp.) cultivars are now available in an array of forms and flower colors, including several native, pollinator-friendly cultivars. However, little is known about response of witchhazel cultivars to powdery mildew (Podosphaera biuncinata) or the growth and flowering characteristics of witchhazel cultivars in a nursery field production setting. To provide growth, flowering, and disease incidence data to nursery growers, a cultivar trial including 23 cultivars of witchhazel representing five species was planted Apr. 2016 in McMinnville, TN. Plant growth, flowering density, length of bloom, and foliar disease incidence were evaluated over three growing seasons between May 2016 and Oct. 2018. ‘Zuccariniana’ japanese witchhazel (H. japonica) and ‘Sunglow’ common witchhazel (H. virginiana) showed the greatest height increase during the trial, and ‘Sunglow’ also added the most width during the trial. Cultivars with negative height or width growth included Sweet Sunshine chinese witchhazel (H. mollis) and hybrid witchhazels (H. ×intermedia) Aphrodite, Twilight, and Barmstedt Gold. Ten of the 23 cultivars experienced winter injury in the form of stem necrosis. Root crown sprouts were observed for all cultivars at least once during the trial. ‘Wisely Supreme’ chinese witchhazel had the longest bloom period, followed by ‘Westerstede’ and ‘Twilight’ hybrid witchhazels, whereas ‘Quasimodo’ vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) had the greatest density of flowers. The hybrid witchhazel cultivars Aphrodite, Nina, and Arnold Promise and the common witchhazel cultivars Green Thumb and Sunglow were resistant to powdery mildew under trial conditions in all 3 years. ‘Twilight’ and ‘Barmstedt Gold’ hybrid witchhazel, ‘Little Suzie’ common witchhazel, ‘Wisley Supreme’ chinese witchhazel, and ‘Shibamichi Red’ japanese witchhazel were moderately resistant to powdery mildew.
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spelling doaj.art-1ab9e5f0d18642c6b500d890387b02822022-12-22T00:18:26ZengAmerican Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS)HortTechnology1943-77142019-07-01294507515https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH04349-19Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in TennesseeLisa W. Alexander Anthony L. Witcher Fulya Baysal-Gurel Witchhazel (Hamamelis sp.) cultivars are now available in an array of forms and flower colors, including several native, pollinator-friendly cultivars. However, little is known about response of witchhazel cultivars to powdery mildew (Podosphaera biuncinata) or the growth and flowering characteristics of witchhazel cultivars in a nursery field production setting. To provide growth, flowering, and disease incidence data to nursery growers, a cultivar trial including 23 cultivars of witchhazel representing five species was planted Apr. 2016 in McMinnville, TN. Plant growth, flowering density, length of bloom, and foliar disease incidence were evaluated over three growing seasons between May 2016 and Oct. 2018. ‘Zuccariniana’ japanese witchhazel (H. japonica) and ‘Sunglow’ common witchhazel (H. virginiana) showed the greatest height increase during the trial, and ‘Sunglow’ also added the most width during the trial. Cultivars with negative height or width growth included Sweet Sunshine chinese witchhazel (H. mollis) and hybrid witchhazels (H. ×intermedia) Aphrodite, Twilight, and Barmstedt Gold. Ten of the 23 cultivars experienced winter injury in the form of stem necrosis. Root crown sprouts were observed for all cultivars at least once during the trial. ‘Wisely Supreme’ chinese witchhazel had the longest bloom period, followed by ‘Westerstede’ and ‘Twilight’ hybrid witchhazels, whereas ‘Quasimodo’ vernal witchhazel (H. vernalis) had the greatest density of flowers. The hybrid witchhazel cultivars Aphrodite, Nina, and Arnold Promise and the common witchhazel cultivars Green Thumb and Sunglow were resistant to powdery mildew under trial conditions in all 3 years. ‘Twilight’ and ‘Barmstedt Gold’ hybrid witchhazel, ‘Little Suzie’ common witchhazel, ‘Wisley Supreme’ chinese witchhazel, and ‘Shibamichi Red’ japanese witchhazel were moderately resistant to powdery mildew.https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/29/4/article-p507.xmlhamamelisornamental breedingcultivar trialdisease evaluationgermplasm evaluation
spellingShingle Lisa W. Alexander
Anthony L. Witcher
Fulya Baysal-Gurel
Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
HortTechnology
hamamelis
ornamental breeding
cultivar trial
disease evaluation
germplasm evaluation
title Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
title_full Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
title_fullStr Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
title_full_unstemmed Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
title_short Growth, Flowering, and Powdery Mildew-related Responses of Witchhazels in Tennessee
title_sort growth flowering and powdery mildew related responses of witchhazels in tennessee
topic hamamelis
ornamental breeding
cultivar trial
disease evaluation
germplasm evaluation
url https://journals.ashs.org/horttech/view/journals/horttech/29/4/article-p507.xml
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AT anthonylwitcher growthfloweringandpowderymildewrelatedresponsesofwitchhazelsintennessee
AT fulyabaysalgurel growthfloweringandpowderymildewrelatedresponsesofwitchhazelsintennessee