Exogenous Application of Growth Regulators Improves the Growth and Quality of Dahlia variabilis L.

Authors

Shahbaz Khan, Colorado Water Centre, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USAFollow
Naeem Abbas, Institute of Horticultural Sciences, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Zuhair Hasnain, Department of Agronomy, PMA-Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, PakistanFollow
Sami Ullah, Pakistan Agricultural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan
Imran Hussain, Environmental Biotechnology, Comsats University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan.
Afroz Rais, Department of Botany, Sardar Bahadur Khan Women’s University, Quetta, Pakistan
Muhammad Atif Ghafoor, Soil and Water Testing Laboratory, Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan
Danish Ibrar, Plant Genetic Resources Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, Pakistan
Sohail Irshad, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Maham Saddique, Department of Botany, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (38040), Pakistan
Muhammad Amjad Bashir, Department of Plant Protection, Ghazi University, Dera Ghazi Khan, Pakistan
Samra Naseem, Muhammad Nawaz Shareef University of Agriculture, Multan, Pakistan
Muhammad Musawir Khan, Center for Advanced Studies of Vaccinology and Biotechnology, University of Balochistan, Quetta, Pakistan
Jawaher Alkahtani, Department of Botany and Microbiology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Abstract

Dahlia (Dahlia variabilis L.), a bulb crop sold as cut flower, garden ornamental/potted plant, becomes a popular cut flower in the world. This experiment was designed to study the effects of foliar applied gibberellic acid, zinc, ascorbic acid, and thiamine on the growth and flower attributes of dahlia. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions at the Floriculture Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan. There were thirteen treatment with three levels each; gibberellic acid, zinc sulphate, ascorbic acid, and thiamine. First, foliar application was done at vegetative stage (after 45 d of transplantation) and second, at the flowering stage. Application of gibberellic acid at 100 ppm significantly improved plant height (92.67 cm). Application of zinc at 0.50% produced the maximum number of flowers (28.47), diameter of flower (100.19 mm), and fresh weight of flower (11.16 g). Foliar application of thiamine increased nutrient accumulation in leaves of dahlia. The nitrogen contents (4.43 %) increased to maximum in response to treatment comprising ascorbic acid, whereas phosphorus content (1.41 mg g^-1) and potassium contents (19.45 mg g^-1) were at maximum in response to thiamine. The highest chlorophyll a (4.37 mg g^-1) and b (2.04 mg g^-1) contents were recorded in treatment comprising thiamine at 150 ppm. The highest carbohydrate contents (35.14%) were recorded in zinc application response. Application of thiamine significantly reduced the days of flowering and flower diameter. Overall, it can be recommended that application of thiamine at 150 ppm is more responsive to improve the growth and quality of dahlia flower as compared to gibberellic acid, zinc, and ascorbic acid.

Recommended Citation

Khan, Shahbaz; Abbas, Naeem; Hasnain, Zuhair; Ullah, Sami; Hussain, Imran; Rais, Afroz; Ghafoor, Muhammad Atif; Ibrar, Danish; Irshad, Sohail; Saddique, Maham; Bashir, Muhammad Amjad; Naseem, Samra; Khan, Muhammad Musawir; and Alkahtani, Jawaher (2023) "Exogenous Application of Growth Regulators Improves the Growth and Quality of Dahlia variabilis L.," The Philippine Agricultural Scientist: Vol. 106: No. 2, Article 6.
Available at: https://www.ukdr.uplb.edu.ph/pas/vol106/iss2/6