The Effect of Supplemental High Pressure Sodium Lighting and Nutrition on Vegetative Growth and Flowering of ‘White Marble’ and ‘Improved Mefo’ Cut Chrysanthemums1
Year: 1982
Type: article
Abstract: Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat. cvs. White Marble and Improved Mefo were rooted and grown in cell paks for 34 days under ambient light plus: photoperiodic incandescent night-break lighting 2μE (m −2 s −1 ); 64 μE m −2 s −1 high pressure sodium (HPS) dusk to dawn lighting; or 126 μE m −2 s −1 HPS dusk to dawn lighting. Container-grown chrysanthemums were fertilized with either 200 ppm N, 86 ppm P and 166 ppm K or 300 ppm N, 129 ppm P and 249 ppm K with every irrigation. After 34 long days these plants were transplanted into raised beds, immediately given short day conditions, and treated as a normal commercial crop. The container-grown treatments were compared to each other and to a bench-grown control which received a total of 48 long days. Supplemental HPS lighting increased the net assimilation rate (NAR), plant dry weight, and height of ‘White Marble’ chrysanthemums after 4 weeks. Increased fertility increased NAR and dry weight in the supplemental light treatment but not in the ambient light treatment. Results were less obvious for “Improved Mefo’. The container-grown treatments were ready for harvest 14 to 22 days before the controls. In both cultivars the high light-high fertility treatment was superior to the other container-grown treatments. The ‘White Marble’ high light-high fertility treatment produced higher quality chrysanthemums than the control, while the same ‘Improved Mefo’ treatment produced chrysanthemums slightly inferior to the control.
Authors: Becky R. Hughes, M. J. Tsujita
Institution: University of Guelph
Language: English
Subfield: Plant Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,500
OpenAlex ID: W4289842249