This research study was carried out during the two successive seasons of 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 at the farm located within the vicinity of the Arid lands Agriculture graduated studies and Research Institute (ALARI), Shobra Elkheima, Qalyobia governorate, Egypt, under an unheated plastic-house (25 m length x 9 m width x 3.5 m height). The experiments were laid out in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 3 replications, and the result data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Chrysanthemum (Denderanthema grandiflora Ramat) cv. Zembla was employed in this research imported initially from DELIFLOR Company, in the Netherlands. Seedlings were planted in different substrate cultures to determine the most suitable local mixes for their cultivation and maximum production. Three of them were chosen from the local environment namely Water hyacinth, Palm fiber and Sugar-cane refuse in addition to Sawdust and Peat moss. The seedlings were planted into pots filled with eleven substrate culture mixes as follow: Water hyacinth (WH), WH + peat moss (1:1), Palm fibers (PF), PF + Peat moss (1:1), Coarse sawdust (CS), CS + Peat moss (1:1), Fine sawdust (FS), FS + peat moss (1:1), Sugar-Cane refuse (SC), SC + Peat moss (1:1) and Peat moss. The results indicated that the substrate combination of PF + peat moss (1:1) and WH + peat moss (1:1) gave higher significant values when compared to other remaining substrate with regards to vegetative parameters, i.e. plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves per plant and greenness of leaves as SPAD reading values. Also flower diameter exhibited a higher significant increase when PF + peat moss (1:1) + WH+ peat moss substrate combination was used compared to the other remaining substrates. Flower vase life also was influenced by the local substrate used in bringing up the cut-flowers and showed longer standing in the preservative solution when flowers were obtained from both of WH + peat moss (1:1) and Palm fiber + peat moss (1:1) compared to other substrate culture mixtures.

The interaction of pulsing in preservatives, growth regulators and cold storage on vase life and quality of Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema grandiflora) cut flowers was investigated. Chrysanthemum cut flowers were treated with benzyl adenine (BA), silver nitrate (AgNO3), cobalt sulfate (CoSO4) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and then were placed in cold storage at 5ºC for periods of 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Vase life, fresh weight, total chlorophyll and total carbohydrate were determined. Cold storage for one week and pulsing with BA and AgNO3 showed longest vase life, the lowest chlorophyll decrease and highest total carbohydrate content.

A pot experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation timing on growth and flowering of Chrysanthemum morifolium cuttings. AMF inocula were either directly applied to cutting (AMFC), or applied at transplanting stage (AMFT). The data showed: a significant difference in plant growth of AMF treatment compared with non-inoculated treatment at transplanting stage. Rooting rate in AMF treatment was 99% whereas it was 77% in non-mycorrhizal inoculated. The colonization rate was 53.9% in AMF treatment, while no in non-AMF treatment. Tap root length and number of lateral roots in AMF treatments were twice of those recorded for non-AMF treatments. Inoculation of AMF significantly increased shoot and root growth at transplanting stage. After transplantation, chrysanthemum plants in AMFC and AMFT treatments had 76.42 and 64.24% colonization rate, respectively. Plant height, leaf area, root length, fresh and dry weight of shoots, stems and roots in AMF inoculation treatments (AMFC and AMFT) increased significantly than those of control plants. AMF inoculation significantly shortened flowering time compared with non-AMF plants. Fresh weight, width and length of flowers in AMFC and AMFT treatments were generally higher than those in control. However, a significant increase in fresh weight, width and length of flowers was found in AMFC compared with AMFT treatment. A significant increase of macronutrient concentrations in leaves was observed for AMFC treatment compared with control. Mn concentration in AMFC and AMFT was more than double of that in control. In roots, macro and micronutrient concentrations were generally higher in AMFC than AMFT or control treatments