Effects of growing media and humidity control on seed germination and growth of Lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum)
2011
Wanlapa Chayapradit(Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Agriculture. Department of Horticulture)
Generally, growing medium for Lisianthus is the mixture of soil and compost in ratio 10:1. The process of growing media preparing is quite complicated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the growing media and humidity control on seed germination and growth of Lisianthus 6 cultivars, such as Pink Octet (8 layers) Rimmed, Red Octet, Purple Octet, Purple Octet Rimmed, Red Octet Rimmed and White Octet. We found that peat moss was the suitable growing media for seed germination and seedling growth, followed by soil : peat moss (1:1). Both of growing media were higher in seed germination than soil :compost (10:1) (control). The mixture of sand : peat moss (1:1), sand : rice husk charcoal : compost (1:1:1) and coconut dust:sand:compost (1:1:1) were less than 50 percent seed germination. The percentage of germination in all cultivars was approximately 0-8 percent when sowed the seeds in sand : rice husk charcoal:compost (1:1:1). Moreover, we studied about media humidity control by plastic bag covering. Using plastic bag covered growing media affected faster in seed germination than control (non-covered) for 1-2 weeks and higher in 22 percent germination after sowing for 4 weeks. In order to compare growth of 2.5 months seedlings in all cultivars, there were no significant differences in leaf number, width and length, but difference in stem height, i.e. the average number of leaf was 2.25-2.56 mm, 10.29 -12.44 mm leaf width and 35.62-42.29 mm leaf length. Pink Octet (8 layers) Rimmed had the highest of stem about 1.98 mm, while Red Octet Rimmed had the least of stem height around 1.56 mm.
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