Myth of Vitamin B-1 that Refuses to Go Away

During the transplanting process at Bangan, Myanmar, the landscape contractor proffered a couple of plant "supplements", which are suppose to help the palms recover better from transplanting. No doubt recommended by his favourite garden centre. I had advised not to use Ferti-Start, which may cause iron toxicity and okay-ed the Bl-Plus, as it contains amino acid.

 Ferti-Start (containing Vitamin B-1 and Chelated Iron)

B1 Plus Super Start (containing Vitamin B-1, Amino Acid and Monopoly Saccharide)

The following is by Linda Chalker-Scott, PhD, who is widely known for her debunking of horticultural myths.

Superthrive and similar claims about products that tout the value of vitamin B-1 and or synthetic auxins as "tonics" that have value when used on a regular basis.

Applying vitamin B-1, or thiamine, to root systems of whole plants does not stimulate root growth. This is a myth that refuses to die, though it has been repeatedly refuted in the scientific literature. To understand why, it helps to think about this in a historical perspective.

Many decades ago the plant growth regulators called auxins were isolated and characterized. Auxins were found to stimulate cell elongation in both root and shoot tissues. Commercial preparations were developed that contained auxin and vitamin B-1 among other ingredients. Research in 1949 found improved root development in plants treated with one of these preparations (Transplantone, which contains both auxin and thiamine), but noted the importance of auxins in this response. Further research throughout the last half of the 20th century investigating the application of auxins to root systems suggested that auxins may stimulate root growth, but that vitamin B-1 on its own does not.

Indole butyric acid (IBA) is one of the most common auxin formulations especially in tissue culture. In cuttings, it has been found to increase the number of roots, to increase rooting percentage, to increase both parameters, or to do neither. IBA has had some success in root regeneration in transplanted trees; it may help redirect resources to the roots by suppressing crown growth.

Naphthylacetic acid (NAA) is also a commonly used auxin and often the active ingredient in commercial preparations. NAA tends to be toxic to seedling root development, as it inhibits primary root growth and enhances lateral root growth. This latter activity may account for NAA’s success in regenerating roots of transplanted and root-pruned trees. Like IBA, NAA apparently suppresses crown growth, which also may redirect resources to the roots.

Vitamin B-1 (thiamine) is an important component of tissue culture media, in which isolated plant tissues can be propagated. Its use for stimulating root growth in whole plants is not supported in the literature and one study reported that root growth was greater in the control treatment (water) than with thiamine. Plants in the field manufacture their own source of thiamine and it is therefore unnecessary to add any additional levels. Many fungi and bacteria associated with plant roots also produce thiamine, so it’s likely that healthy soils will contain adequate levels of this vitamin without amendment.

The Bottom Line

• Vitamin B-1, aka thiamine, does not reduce transplant shock or stimulate new root growth on plants outside the laboratory.
• A nitrogen fertilizer is adequate for transplanting landscape plants; avoid use of “transplant fertilizers” that contain phosphate.
• Healthy plants will synthesize their own thiamine supply.
• Healthy soils contain beneficial microbes that synthesize thiamine as well.
• Difficult-to-transplant species may be aided by application of auxin-containing products in addition to nitrogen, but read the label and don’t add unnecessary and potentially harmful chemicals (this includes organics!).
• Adequate soil moisture is crucial for new root growth; be sure to irrigate new transplants frequently and use mulch to reduce evaporation".

Gebiz Spiral Watch

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Enhancing Post Transplant Success In Palms

At a resort development in Bagan, Myanmar.

Transplanting Borassus flabellifer (Sugar or Toddy Palm) from a farm to the resort for an instant landscape effect. The palms at the farm had their roots burlapped a month beforehand.

The palms would give the reception building in the background a "countryside" look.

Couriered over some rooting hormone (auxin), controlled release fertililser and measuring implements.

 Advised the landscape team there to use one litre bottles to measure out 20 litres or so in a large bucket.

Using my own rooting powder to gauge of the amount to scoop out on the field by the number of tablespoons.

Using a cup with a marking to give a gauge of the amount of fertiliser to be given to each palm on the field.

Workers had no troubles following the instructions.

Mixing some rooting hormone powder in a bucket of water.

Root Cuts

Urban environments often have trees planted in straight rows in order to make the space greener and smooth out its rough edges. And often, that landscape would have to grow by way of road widening, drain improvement, etc., and some trees would have to go. So what would go into the decision of which trees to be removed, and which could be retained?

Construction activities such as demolishing, building, excavation and heavy vehicles traversing the site would damage and cut roots, which diminishes tree health and/or structural stability.

When roots must be cut, they should be cut as far away from the trunk as possible to reduce impact to tree health. If the root space is permanently lost as a result of lowering the grade or construction of a structure, then the portion of root system cannot be replaced, and stress and stability issues may not be overcome.

Before any works, it is a good idea to locate roots by hand digging or excavation using compressed air tool. A new technology, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) can be used to detect roots as deep as 0.9 m and with a diameter as small as 1 cm. However, the size of roots cannot be determined, two roots close together cannot be distinguished, and the soil type is ideally in sandy soil. Resolution and depth of detection is reduced with soil with high water and clay content, which is the case in Singapore's soil.

In nature, root injuries are common and roots have evolved to have strong compartmentalisation. Just as flush-cutting branches is no longer an acceptable practice, pruning a root to its point of origin should not cut into the parent root. And preferably beyond sinker roots, and several smaller cuts instead of one large-diameter cut. Tools that are not sharp enough to cut roots such as excavators are used, they would result in torn and crushed. Such damaged roots should be pruned with a clean cut instead of being left as they are.

Trenching in a linear manner at a distance from the trunk that is less than three times the trunk diameter (or DBH x 0.5 x 5 from the center of trunk) can reduce stability. Adventitious roots may be formed by trees with root loss and are able to provide them with water and nutrients to maintain green foliage. However, those roots are too small to support the weight of the tree and may result in tree failure in wind conditions. Tree support systems and tree removal are possible remedies.

More research is needed to determine and recommended specific practices on the factors that affect decay development after root pruning: root diameter, distance from the trunk and presence of heartwood on the cut surface.