Standardization of growing media and growth regulators for rose (Rosa ssp.) under top ventilated rain shelter
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Date
2019
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Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
Rose is acclaimed as ‘Queen of flowers’ because of its colour, fragrance and elegance. Cut roses are having very high demand in domestic as well as international market due to versatile uses. Roses can be successfully cultivated under top ventilated rain shelters in Kerala. Soilless media consist of vermiculite, perlite, and rockwool are popularly used for commercial production of rose under protected condition. These are costly and not easily available to farmers. Thus, there is a need to develop a cost effective growing media with locally available materials. Exogenous application of plant growth regulators improves the yield and quality of cut flowers by manipulating hormonal regulations in the plant system. Even though commercial formulations of different growth regulators are available in the market, the type and precise concentration of growth regulators are to be standardised. Hence the present study entitled “Standardization of growing media and growth regulators for rose (Rosa spp.) under top ventilated rain shelter” was carried out in the Department of Floriculture and Landscaping, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during 2018-2019. Objective of the study was to standardize growing media and growth regulators for commercial production of cut roses in agroclimatic conditions of Kerala.
The experiment consisted of twelve treatments, which included different combinations of three growing media viz; soil + M-sand + cocopeat + FYM (M1), soil + M-sand + cocopeat + vermicompost (M2) and soil + M-sand + cocopeat + poultry manure (M3) in 2:1:1:1 ratio and two levels each of two growth regulators viz; Benzyl adenine (BA) and Gibberellic acid (GA) at 200 and 250 ppm. Six months old grafts of rose variety ‘Tajmahal’ was used for the study. Observations on growth characters, yield, post harvest aspects as well as nutrient status of the growing media were recorded.
With regard to vegetative characters, growing media, growth regulators and interaction between growing media and growth regulators had significant influence during the period of observation. Growing media containing FYM (M1) recorded the greatest plant height and was on par with growing media containing
vermicompost (M2). Among growth regulators, GA 250 ppm was found to be superior in terms of plant height. With respect to interaction effect, greatest plant height was observed under the media containing FYM (M1) and GA at 250 ppm. Plant spread was highest under medium containing FYM (M1). Growth regulators had significant influence on plant spread and BA at 200 and 250 ppm were superior and on par in terms of this parameter. Regarding interaction, growing media containing FYM (M1) along with 200 ppm BA was observed to have the highest plant spread during the growth period.
Media containing FYM (M1) as well as vermicompost (M2) were found to produce more number of branches and among growth regulators, BA at 200 and 250 ppm were on par and superior with respect to this parameter. Regarding interaction effect, highest number of branches was observed under growing media containing FYM (M1) and BA at 200 ppm.
Significant effects of growing media could be observed on floral characters and media containing FYM (M1) was found to be superior with respect to floral characters viz; length of flower bud (3.37 cm), diameter of flower bud (2.16 cm), number of flowers /plant (5.04), number of petals/ flower (51.92), stalk length (47.94 cm) and flower diameter at fully opened stage (8.44 cm). Growing media containing FYM (M1) and growing media containing vermicompost (M2) were on par in terms of other floral characters viz; length of flower shoot, neck girth and stalk girth of flower.
With respect to the influence of growth regulators on floral characters, a greater number of flowers/plant (5.38 and 5.10) as well as largest flowers at fully opened stage (8.33 and 7.99 cm) were observed under BA at 200 and 250 ppm. Stalk length of the flower was found to be maximum under GA at 200 ppm (47.92 cm). Highest length of flower shoot was observed in GA at 200 ppm and BA at 200 ppm which were on par with each other (38.79 and 36.94 cm respectively). Growing media and growth regulator interaction had significant influence on floral parameters viz; stalk length and number of petals per flower. Media containing FYM (M1) with GA 200 as well as 250 ppm were found to have maximum stalk
length (52.48 and 50.09 cm respectively). Highest number of petals were observed under media containing FYM (M1) along with BA 200 and 250 ppm, media containing FYM (M1) along with GA 200 and 250 ppm, media containing vermicompost (M2) along with BA 200 ppm and GA 200 ppm as well as media containing poultry manure (M3) along with BA 200 ppm. Early initiation of flower bud was observed under media containing FYM (M1) along with BA 250 ppm (119.22 days).
Regarding post harvest characters, media containing FYM (M1) was superior in terms of fresh weight of flower (16.36 g), total water uptake (49.48 ml) and vase life (8.46 days). Among growth regulators BA 200 ppm had longest vase life which was on par with GA at 200 ppm. Maximum fresh weight was observed under BA 200 ppm (15.17g). With regard to interaction effect, treatment combination of FYM + BA at 200 was found to have maximum vase life and fresh weight of flower (9.38 days and 18.71g respectively).
Considering overall performance, growing media combination of soil + M-sand + cocopeat + FYM (2:1:1:1) along with monthly application of BA at 200 ppm can be recommended for commercial cultivation of rose under protected condition in Kerala.
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174823