Plant Growth Regulators pgr(s)- Benefits for trees and shrub
Untreated
Dr. Dan Herms, an Ohio State University professor, developed the Tree Energy Budget Theory, which posits that trees have a limited amount of energy and allocate it to various functions, including growth, defense, and storage, with trade-offs between these functions.
Treated
Plants treated with Growth Regulators reallocate the energy from vegetative shoot growth to other functions. Other functions: root growth, defense compounds, and storage compounds allow trees to weather increased drought and heat stress. Increased energy to reproductive structures translates to increased and more uniform flowering on shrubs and plants.
Using pgr(s) to battle drought and heat stress
Story of a White Oak
This is the progression of a White Oak in severe stress treated with a growth regulator. The Morton Arboretum began treatments in 1989 in combination with radial trenching and pruning. The last image to the right was taken in 2001.
Root Growth
The Morton Arboretum studied growth of fine root mass using plant growth regulators. Fine roots, or feeder roots, are essential in the acquisition of water and essential nutrients. Images to the right show fine root growth of sugar maples one year after planting.
Left image is untreated. Right image has been treated with a growth regulator and shows significant increased fine root growth.
Stress Resistance
Another study from The Morton Arboretum showing the resistance of Oak to Leaf Scorch. Trees treated with growth regulators develop thicker wax cuticles, decreases water loss from the leaves, increases cell turgor, and increases chlorophyll which produces a darker green leaf. All very important functions when dealing with environmental stress.