THE EFFECT OF STOCK PLANT TREATMENTS ON ROOTING AND LATERAL BRANCHING IN SOME GREENHOUSE PLANTS

Stock plants of the hybrid species of Begonia x hiemalis and Chrysanthemum morifolium were subjected to various lamp types and irradiance levels, and CO₂ enrichment (only Begonia) during the winter (Oct. – March) in an 18°C greenhouse.
Lamp types had no influence on yield and quality of the leaf cuttings in Begonia ‘Schwabenland’ and ‘Nixe’, while fluorescent lamps were favourable for cutting production and lateral branching in chrysanthemum.
An increase in irradiance level from 5 to 15 Wm^-2 increased the yield of cuttings with 49% in Begonia and 58% in chrysanthemum.
Carbon dioxide enrichment (900 or 1500 μl l^-1) enhanced the relative growth with about 15–20% in Begonia, and continuous lighting resulted in the highest yield of cuttings.

Lamp types had no after-effects on rooting and growth of the rooted cuttings in chrysanthemum.
A high irradiance level of the stock plants slightly delayed rooting, but strongly enhanced growth of the rooted cuttings after planting.

Propagation of Ornamental Plants

R. Moe

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1985.166.5