Performance of <i>Chrysanthemum</i> <i> <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif'> </i> <i>morifolium</i> Ramat. cv. ‘Chandrama’ grown at different levels of planting density and stem maintained per plant

Abstract

Chrysanthemum has wide acceptability as cut flower due to its wide range of colour, types and exotic forms. Keeping in view the market demand of these flowers a study was conducted at Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya (BCKV), Mohanpur, Nadia to note the differences in growth habit of <b><i style="">Chrysanthemum </i></b><b><i style=""> <img src='/image/spc_char/cross.gif'> </i></b><b><i style=""> morifolium </i></b><b>Ramat</b><b>.</b> cv ‘Chandrama’ under the influence of different plant densities and stems maintained per plant. The results revealed that the plants under the treatment P₁ (12 plants/m²) performed better in respect to all the growth and flowering parameter, however, leaves/plant was maximum in the treatment P₃ (20 plants/m²). Number of stems/plant showed significant variation (on the basis of pooled data) in all the characters undertaken during the study. But the treatment failed to significantly influence plant height and leaf number. Unpinched single stemmed plants recorded greater leaf area, showed early flowering and also produced larger and heavier flowers with longer and thicker flower stalks and maximum shelf-life. Lower plant density plants were larger with respect to all the parameters.