2001 OSU/OFA POINSETTIA TRIAL RESULTS by By Stephen Carver (OFA), Claudio Pasian (OSU), Monica Kmetz-Gonzalez (OSU), and Tim Rhodus (OSU) This year's trial, sponsored by the Ohio Florists' Association Grower Extension Committee and The Ohio State University (OSU), Department of Horticulture and Crop Science, has just been completed. The trial had two distinct parts: 1) a consumer evaluation on which we are reporting in this article, and 2) a grower evaluation, which will be the subject of an article in next month's newsletter. The trial was held in conjunction with the poinsettia sale run by the horticulture honorary society Pi-Alpha-Xi (PAX) Nov 29, 30 and Dec 1. A high percent (95%) of our evaluators bought at least one poinsettia. We asked those poinsettia buyers (312) to participate in our cultivar evaluation. This year we trailed 52 cultivars, a few of which were older standards for comparison. These cultivars were grown for us by five growers around Ohio with one plant of each cultivar being sent to OSU by each grower. The greenhouses that participated in the trial were Barco Sons, Inc. in Medina, Bostdorff Greenhouse Acres in Bowling Green, Dieffenbacher's Greenhouse in Cincinnati, Dill's Greenhouse in Columbus, and Lakewood Greenhouse in Toledo. Rooted cuttings were generously supplied by Dummen USA, Stanwood, WA; Paul Ecke Ranch, Encinitas, CA; Fisher USA, Boulder, CO; Oglevee Ltd., Connellsville, PA; and Selecta/HMA, North Kingsville, OH. The plants were grown under similar conditions and delivered to OSU 1 to 5 days prior to the consumer evaluation. Plants of each cultivar were grouped together, each group numbered and randomized on the bench. We asked consumers to rate each cultivar, based on its overall appeal on a 5-point scale with '5' being the top score. This year, we also asked participants to place a silent auction bid (if they so chose) on up to 3 cultivars (one plant per cultivar) that they would be willing to come back and purchase at the price they listed. We set the minimum bid at $10 which was PAX's price for the same size (6.5 inch) poinsettias they were selling. This year's results were very similar to last year's, i.e. seven of the top ten cultivars were red (Table 1 ). Last year 8 of the top 10 cultivars were red. This year's top rated reds included, 'Rebel Red', 'Orion Red', 'Max Red', 'Red Elf', 'Christmas Cookie', 'Premium Red', and 'Festival Red'. It is interesting to note that some of the top rated reds in last year's trial that were included in this year's trial did not rate as high. This is, despite the fact that they were produced in the same greenhouses each year. What a difference a season can make. A take home message is that these results should only serve as guidelines. Growers need to trial new cultivars in their own facilities before making a major shift in cultivar selection. The non-red cultivars in the top 10 ratings included 'Sonora White Glitter', 'Jingle Bells', and 'Snowberry Punch'. 'Sonora White Glitter' was included in last year's trial where it received only an average rating, but it was the top 'would buy' favorite. This year, not only was it among the top rated cultivars, it also received the most silent auction bids (Table 1). You can check pictures of the cultivars in the world wide web: http://flori.ag.ohio-state.edu Acknowledgments: In addition to the poinsettia breeder / suppliers, we would like to thank Terry Diefenbacher, Walter Krueger, Jane Ellsworth, Jerry Dill, Mike McCabe, and Richard Bostdorff for the time and resources shared with us in producing the poinsettias for the trial. We thank Audrey Bates and David Snodgrass at the Ohio State University who made crucial contributions in data collection and care of the plants at the University, Mike McCabe, and the OFA Grower Extension Committee for their involvement in conceiving, organizing, and sponsoring the trial.