The effect of chitosan coating of bulbs on the growth and flowering of Ornithogalum saundersiae

The effect of chitosan on morphological features and plant yield is inconsistent and depends largely on the species, the application method or the physicochemical properties of the biopolymer.
In the experiment, 0.5% solutions of chitosan with 2 molecular weights (48,000 and 154,000 g mol^-1) were used for coating Ornithogalum saundersiae bulbs.
The biopolymers were contained by means of controlled free-radical degradation.
After coating, single bulbs were planted in pots.
The plants were grown in a plastic tunnel from mid-May to mid-September.
As a result of the use of chitosan for bulb coating, the plants started flowering earlier, were taller, had broader leaves and inflorescences, regardless of the molecular weight.
It was found that the leaves of plants derived from chitosan-coated bulbs with molecular weight 154,000 g mol^-1 had greater stomatal conductance and increased chlorophyll content as compared to plants treated with chitosan of the lower molecular weight.

XXIX International Horticultural Congress on Horticulture: Sustaining Lives, Livelihoods and Landscapes (IHC2014): International Symposium on Ornamental Horticulture in the Global Greenhouse

P. Salachna, J. Wilas, A. Zawadzińska

biopolymers, geophytes, giant chincherinchee, molecular weight

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2015.1104.18