Pak. j. life soc. Sci.

(2017), 15(2): 114-119 E-ISSN: 2221-7630;P-ISSN: 1727-4915

Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences

www.pjlss.edu.pk

RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effects of Foliar Application of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth and
Flowering Characteristics of Chrysanthemum CV. Paintball
Moh a m m ed Re fda n Alh a jh oj
Col l eg e of Agr i cul t ur e Sci en ces a n d Food, Ki n g Fa i sa l Un i ver si t y, Sa udi Ar a bi a

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT

Received: Mar 15, 2017 The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of
Accepted: Aug 12, 2017 gibberellic acid (GA3) and cycocel (CCC) on growth and flowering characteristics of
chrysanthemum cv. Paintball. There were three concentrations of GA3 (100, 200,
Keywords 300 ppm) and CCC (1000, 1500, 2000 ppm) along with control one. Data regarding
Chrysanthemum growth and flowering characteristics indicated that both attributes were varied
Cycocel significantly (P≤0.05). Application of GA3 @ 300 ppm exhibited maximum plant
Flowering height (59.85 cm), plant spread (24.51 cm), number of branches per plant (18.67),
Gibberellic acid number of suckers (9.33), number of leaves per plant (64.67), leaf area per plant
Growth (174.02 cm2), plant fresh (333.59 g) and dry weight (39.94 g), number of flowers per
Plant growth regulators plant (34.67), flower size (9.38 cm), flower persistence (45.67 days), flower fresh
(6.18 g) and dry weight (1 g). However, plants treated with the same GA 3
concentration took minimum time to bloom (110.67 days). Moreover, GA3 @ 200
*Corresponding Author: ppm concentration also showed encouraging results regarding all above parameters.
refdan99@yahoo.com However, effects of CCC appeared as growth retardant, which delayed flowering
malhajhoj@kfu.edu.sa time without affecting floral quality traits.

INTRODUCTION application of organic and inorganic fertilizer,

manipulation of plant environment including
Chrysanthemum (Dendranthema morifolium) was first temperature, light duration, quality and quantity, and
cultivated in China back in the 15th century B.C as a the use of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The latter
flowering herb, which was introduced into the Western approach has been used in floriculture industry since
world during the 17th Century as an ornamental plant. 1940 to control vegetative, reproductive and post-
It is widely grown for indoor and outdoor harvest developmental processes (Basra, 2000). It is
beautification, fragrance, clean air, and serenity. There predicted that the global PGRs market will surge from
are hundreds of chrysanthemum varieties, which are 3.5 billion USD (2014) to 6.4 billion USD by 2020
classified into eight different types such as single, (Anonymous, 2016). PGRs such as auxins, gibberellins,
pompom, cushion, anemone, spider, spoon, quill and cytokinins, abscisic acid, ethylene, brassinosteroids,
decorative (Bircumshaw and Damp, 1992). The salicylates, jasmonates etc. are also available in
popularity of this ornamental has increased in the synthetic forms, which are commonly used in
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) not only due to its ornamental industry for nursery production, ornamental
remarkable aesthetic beauty but also due to its good foliage plant and several other flowering crops (Arteca,
potential to grow as cut flowers. In KSA, the peak time 1996; Sanap et al., 2000). In present study, two PGRs
of blooming of many varieties of chrysanthemum is were chosen, gibberellins (GA3) and cycocel or
December to January. chlormequat (CCC), the former one regulates the
The world trade of ornamentals is over 100 billion growth and developmental processes while the latter
USD, which is growing 15% per annum. Among one has inhibitor properties. Few previous studies
ornamental plants, the demand of chrysanthemum in showed that maximum plant height, number of
developed countries is more than 90% (Verma et al., branches, leaf area, dry weight, number of seeds per
2014). Therefore, the growers involved in ornamental flower and seed yield of chrysanthemum were obtained
industry adopt various strategies to improve plant when treated with GA3 @ 200 ppm (Sainath and
growth and flower quantity and quality such as Meena, 2012). However, Dorajeerao et al. (2012)

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recorded highest number of flowers, flower yield per opening, number of flowers per plant, flower size,
plot, plant height, leaf area and dry matter accumulation flower persistence, flower fresh and dry weight. All
by the application of GA3 @ 100 ppm, however, CCC means and standard errors were calculated using MS-
had an opposite effect regarding these parameters as Excel 2010 software. However, data analysis software
compared to GA3 and control. Sharifuzzaman et al. Statistix-10 (Analytical Software, Tallahassee, FL,
(2011) reported that GA3 treated plants showed USA) was used to calculate standard errors of
significant increase in plant spread, leave number and differences between means and ANOVA.
leave length, higher number of sucker and flowers and
CCC produced less. Sajid et al. (2016) observed that the RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
application of GA3 (250 mg.L-1) significantly promoted
plant height, leaves per plant, leaf area, number of Data in Table 1 indicated significant (P≤0.05)
branches and suckers, days to flowering and number of differences regarding the plant height, plant spread,
flowers per plant of cv. Fanfare. CCC negatively number of branches per plant, number of suckers per
affected vegetative and floral characteristics of plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area per plant,
poinsettia (Renu and Ranjan, 2013) and hybrid lily plant fresh and dry weight of chrysanthemum cv.
(Naji et al., 2015). Keeping in view the importance and Paintball treated with different GA3 and CCC
wide application of PGRs in floricultural industry, concentrations. Plants attained maximum height (59.85
present study was aimed to determine the significance cm) when treated with GA3 @ 300 ppm followed by
of GA3 and CCC in chrysanthemum to improve its that of 200 (55.71 cm) and 100 ppm (52.37 cm)
vegetative and floral quality characters under the concentrations. CCC worked as growth retardant and its
climatic conditions of Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. higher concentration (2000 ppm) significantly reduced
plant height up to 44.19 cm followed by that of 1500
MATERIALS AND METHODS (46.88 cm) and 1000 ppm (48.37 cm) concentration.
Plants grown in control were 50.83 cm tall. A similar
The present study was conducted to determine the trend was observed regarding the plant spread
effect of GA3 and CCC on growth and flowering of parameter where maximum plant spread (24.51 cm)
chrysanthemum cv. Paintball under glasshouse was observed when GA3 @ 300 ppm was applied
conditions at Agricultural Research and Veterinary followed by that of 200 (22.85 cm) and 100 ppm (21.12
Experimental Station, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, cm) concentrations. Plants in control treatment spread
Saudi Arabia during year 2014-15. The experiment was 20.40 cm. CCC @ 2000 ppm significantly reduced
laid out on completely randomized design with seven plant canopy i.e. 17.19 cm followed by that of 1500
treatments comprising of three levels of GA3 at 100, (18.49 cm) and 1000 ppm (19.25 cm) concentrations.
200 and 300 ppm, and CCC at 1000, 1500 and 2000 Plant height is influenced by different factors such as
ppm along with control. There were six replicates in temperature (Munir et al., 2004a), light (Munir et al.,
each treatment. 2004b) and PGRs (Baloch et al., 2013). Foliar
Rooted terminal cuttings of cv. Paintball were taken application of GA3 might have influenced the stem
from the well established mother plants and were elongation and canopy spread by stimulating cell
planted in 9 cm plastic pots separately on 15th August. division and elongation. These findings are in line with
After one month, they were transplanted in 25 cm pots those of Sajid et al. (2016), Patel et al. (2010), Schmidt
having a mixture of leaf compost and sand at 2:1 ratio. et al. (2003) and Talukdar and Paswan (1994) who
A uniform dose (2.5 g pot-1) of 20:20:20 NPK fertilizer observed an increase in plant height with the increased
was also applied ten days after transplantation. GA3 concentrations in chrysanthemum. On the other
Different concentrations of GA3 (@ 100, 200 and 300 hand, CCC, being a gibberellin inhibitor, reduced plant
ppm) and CCC (@1000, 1500 and 2000 ppm) solutions height and spread as compared to plants treated with
were foliar sprayed on plants at 7 am in the morning on GA3 and in control, which is also reported in
25th and 50th day after transplanting (twice), whereas chrysanthemum (Patel et al., 2010; Vaghasia and
distilled water was sprayed on control plants. Attention Polara, 2015) and Erysimum marshallii (Bhat et al.,
was given to pot spacing in order to reduce plant 2011). Comparing the effect of two PGRs on number of
competition (shade avoidance). Due to organic nature branches per plant, a non-significant effect of both
of soil mixtures, weeds were rooted out by hand PGRs was observed, however, it was significantly
whenever emerged. All other cultural practices were different when compared with control treatment.
uniformly followed for all the treatments. The growth Maximum number of branches per plant (18.67) was
and flowering parameters studied were: plant height, counted in GA3 @ 300 ppm treatment followed by
plant spread, number of branches per plant, number of those of CCC @ 2000 ppm (17.33), GA3 @ 200 ppm
suckers per plant, number of leaves per plant, leaf area and CCC @ 1500 ppm (16.67), CCC @ 1000 ppm
per plant, plant fresh and dry weight, days to flower (15.67) and GA3 @ 100 ppm (14.33) concentrations.

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Table 1: Effect of different concentrations of GA3 and Cycocel on plant growth characteristics of chrysanthemum cv.
Paintball
No. of No. of Leaf area No. of
Plant height Plant spread Plant fresh Plant dry
Treatments branches leaves per plant suckers
(cm) (cm) 2 weight (g) weight (g)
per plant per plant (cm ) per plant
Control 50.83(±1.17) 20.40(±0.83) 10.33(±1.45) 34.67(±0.88) 93.35(±2.34) 5.33(±0.33) 264.04(±4.81) 24.72(±2.77)
GA3 @ 100 ppm 52.37(±1.42) 21.12(±0.48) 14.33(±1.45) 43.67(±1.86) 117.73(±5.07) 7.00(±1.00) 281.74(±10.22) 30.22(±3.53)
GA3 @ 200 ppm 55.71(±2.37) 22.85(±1.15) 16.67(±2.19) 54.33(±2.34) 146.26(±6.33) 9.00(±0.58) 300.34(±31.84) 36.22(±5.10)
GA3 @ 300 ppm 59.85(±2.62) 24.51(±1.33) 18.67(±2.03) 64.67(±2.61) 174.02(±7.01) 9.33(±0.67) 333.59(±8.30) 39.94(±1.00)
Cycocel @ 1000 ppm 48.37(±1.49) 19.25(±0.72) 15.67(±1.45) 34.67(±2.61) 93.25(±7.01) 6.67(±0.88) 271.51(±9.10) 27.53(±1.70)
Cycocel @ 1500 ppm 46.88(±2.41) 18.49(±1.33) 16.67(±1.45) 27.33(±2.03) 73.53(±5.46) 5.67(±0.33) 277.83(±11.65) 29.56(±0.55)
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm 44.19(±0.42) 17.19(±0.42) 17.33(±1.20) 23.67(±0.88) 63.66(±2.38) 5.00(±0.58) 282.76(±13.53) 31.10(±1.49)
SED(0.05) 2.80 1.41 2.47 2.96 7.99 1.01 23.13 4.14
LSD(0.05) 6.10* 3.07* 5.39* 6.46** 17.40** 2.20* 50.40* 9.03*
Data in parenthesis indicated standard errors within replicates. SED stands for standard error of difference among means. LSD
stands for least significant difference among means. SED and LSD are calculated at 5% level of probability. * and ** indicated
significant and highly significant statistical difference among treatments respectively.

Plants in control treatment produced minimum number smaller leaf area. Similar results were reported by
of branches per plant (10.33). The possible reason could Dorajeerao et al. (2012), Sainath and Meena (2012) and
be that the foliar application of GA3 might influenced Sharifuzzaman et al. (2011) when chrysanthemum
the vegetative growth by encouraging cell division and plants were treated with GA3 and CCC.
elongation that increased branch numbers. However, Data regarding number of suckers per plants indicated
CCC had opposite effect on branching. These findings that the GA3 concentrations @ 300 and 200 ppm
are in agreement with those of Sajid et al. (2016) and behaved alike and produced highest number of suckers
Sainath and Meena (2012), who recorded more number i.e. 9.33 and 9, respectively followed by those of GA3
of branches with increased concentration of GA3 in @ 100 ppm (7) and CCC @ 1000 ppm (6.67). Plants
chrysanthemum, however, CCC reduced branching treated with CCC @ 1500 and 2000 ppm produced 5.67
numbers as compared to GA3 and control treatments. and 5 suckers, respectively which was closely followed
Table 1 also showed that leaf numbers per plant were by that of control treatment i.e. 5.33 suckers. Number
higher when plants were treated with different of suckers increased with the increase in GA3
concentrations of GA3 such as @ 300 (64.67), 200 concentration while CCC behaved inversely. It showed
(54.33) and 100 ppm (43.67). Plants in control that GA3 might attributed to the increase in branch
treatment produced same number of leaves as were in numbers, leaf and leaf area, which eventually enhanced
CCC @ 1000 ppm treated plants i.e. 34.67 leaves per the translocation of photosynthates to the roots to
plant followed by those of CCC @ 1500 (27.33) and produce higher number of suckers. These findings are
2000 ppm (23.67) treated plants. Greater leaf numbers in agreement with the findings of Sajid et al. (2016) and
were recorded at higher concentration of GA3, which Sharifuzzaman et al. (2011) who observed an increase
might increase cell division, cell elongation and tissue in suckers with GA3 application in chrysanthemum.
differentiation that resulted in the initiation of more Application of GA3 @ 300 and 200 ppm significantly
number of leaves. Moreover, the increased number of increased plant fresh weight i.e. 333.59 and 300.34 g,
branches might be attributed to improve leaf initiation. respectively, whereas CCC @ 2000 (282.76 g), GA3 @
The response of CCC was antagonistic to GA3. These 100 (281.74 g), CCC @ 1500 (277.83 g) and 1000 ppm
findings are at par with those of Sajid et al. (2016), (271.51 g) treatments were statistically at par.
Sainath and Meena (2012), and Sharifuzzaman et al. Minimum plant fresh weight (264.04 g) was measured
(2011). Similar trend was observed regarding leaf area in control treatment. Similarly, maximum plant dry
per plant characteristic i.e. maximum leaf area was weight was recorded in plants which received GA3
estimated when GA3 @ 300 (174.02 cm2), 200 (146.26 concentrations @ 300 (39.94 g) and 200 ppm (36.22 g).
cm2) and 100 ppm (117.73 cm2) was applied. Plants in All other treatments were statistically at par to one
control or treated with CCC @ 1000 ppm resulted in another including control. However, plants treated with
93.35 and 93.25 cm2 leaf area followed by those of CCC @ 2000 ppm produced 31.10 g plant dry weight
CCC @ 1500 (73.53 cm2) and 2000 ppm (63.66 cm2) followed by those of GA3 @ 100 ppm (30.22 g), CCC
concentrations. Chrysanthemum plants exhibited a @ 1500 (29.56 g) 1000 ppm (27.53 g), and control
significant increase in leaf area when GA3 was applied (24.72 g). Gibberellins are engaged in regulation of
that in fact stimulates the cell division and elongation, many phases during plant development of which the
which ultimately increased the leaf area whereas CCC most recognizable function is to promote cell division
suppressed the cell physiology which resulted in that leads to stem elongation, canopy spread, branchial

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plant with increased leaf number and area whereas to enhance early flowering. These findings are
cycocel adversely affect these characteristics. Similar confirming to those reported by Sajid et al. (2016),
response of both PGRs was observed in present study, Sharifuzzaman et al. (2011), Patel et al. (2010) and
which affect plant fresh and dry biomass. Higher Vaghasia and Polara (2015) who observed that plant
concentration of GA3 increased plant fresh and dry treated with GA3 took minimum time to flower while
weight as compared to its lower concentrations and CCC prolonged flowering time. Data regarding number
CCC application. Dorajeerao et al. (2012) reported that of flowers per plant showed that plants treated with
above ground dry matter accumulation increased with GA3 @ 300 (34.67), 200 (30.67) and 100 ppm (24.67)
increased concentration of GA3 whereas as CCC had concentrations produced maximum flowers per plant,
opposite effect. Vaghasia and Polara (2015) stated that however, the 100 ppm GA3 treatment was statistically
fresh and dry weight of chrysanthemum cv. IIHR-6 was different to the other two treatments. There was no
negatively affected by CCC concentrations. significant difference found between other treatments,
Floral characteristics data in Table 2 depicted that days nevertheless, plants treated with CCC @ 2000, 1500,
taken to flowering, number of flowers per plant, flower 1000 along with control bloomed 22, 21.33, 19.67 and
size, flower persistence time, flower fresh and dry 19.33 flowers per plant, respectively. The increase in
weight of chrysanthemum cv. Paintball was flower numbers by GA3 might be due to increase in leaf
significantly (P≤0.05) influenced by different numbers and leaf area, which might have boosted the
concentrations of GA3 and CCC. Flowering time was production and accumulation of assimilates that were
minimum when plants were treated with GA3 @ 300 translocated from source to sink for flowers production
(110.67 days), 200 (116.33 days) and 100 ppm (120.33 (Carvalho et al., 2006). These results are confirmed by
days). First two higher GA3 concentrations were those reported by Sajid et al. (2016), Dorajeerao et al.
statistically at par. However, there was non-significant (2012), and Sainath and Meena (2012) who counted
difference among rest of all treatments i.e. plants in highest flowers numbers with increased GA3
control took 126.33 days to flower followed by CCC @ application. Flower number was decreased by CCC
1000 (127.67 days), 1500 (128.67 days) and 2000 ppm application, however, it was slightly higher when
(129.33 days) concentrations. Three pathways to floral compared to control. Vaghasia and Polara (2015)
initiation was reported by Bradley et al. (1996) which reported similar results when compared CCC treatments
are photoperiod (Munir et al., 2010; Baloch et al., with control, however, Tabora and Hampton (1992)
2011), temperature (Munir et al., 2004a) and GA3 reported that CCC treatments did not clearly indicate
(Mutasa-Göttgens and Hedden, 2009). Present results any increase in flower numbers in lotus.
indicated that application of GA3 might enhanced floral Maximum sized flower were produced by plants
initiation in chrysanthemum. The antagonistic role of sprayed with GA3 @ 300 (9.38 cm) and 200 ppm (8.53
ABA on GA3 expression is reported in Barley (Gómez- cm) concentrations. However, GA3 @ 200 ppm
Cadenas et al., 2001), however, Phengphachanh et al. concentration was statistically non-significant with GA3
(2012) reported that the GA3 decreased the @ 100 (7.70 cm), CCC @ 1500 (7.40 cm) and 2000
concentration of abscisic acid in plant shoot, which ppm (7.86 cm) concentrations. Minimum flower size
might enhance flower initiation and early flowering. (4.81 cm) was observed in control plants. The increase
Moreover, as the leaf numbers were increased in in the flower size might be due to the increase in leaf
present study, which improved photosynthetic activity numbers and leaf area, which lead to produced more

Table 2: Effect of different concentrations of GA3 and Cycocel on flowering characteristics of chrysanthemum cv.
Paintball
No. of Flower Flower fresh Flower dry
Day to flower Flower size
Treatments flowers persistence weight weight
opening (cm)
per plant (days) (g) (g)
Control 126.33(±2.34) 19.33(±0.67) 4.81(±0.64) 35.33(±1.45) 3.77(±0.12) 0.67(±0.05)
GA3 @ 100 ppm 120.33(±1.45) 24.67(±4.67) 7.70(±0.41) 38.67(±2.03) 5.28(±0.13) 0.90(±0.03)
GA3 @ 200 ppm 116.33(±2.03) 30.67(±0.67) 8.53(±0.48) 42.00(±1.16) 5.55(±0.20) 0.95(±0.03)
GA3 @ 300 ppm 110.67(±2.91) 34.67(±3.72) 9.38(±0.41) 45.67(±1.20) 6.18(±0.11) 1.00(±0.00)
Cycocel @ 1000 ppm 127.67(±1.77) 19.67(±2.03) 6.98(±0.21) 35.67(±1.77) 5.43(±0.20) 0.90(±0.03)
Cycocel @ 1500 ppm 128.67(±0.88) 21.33(±1.77) 7.40(±0.57) 38.67(±2.03) 4.78(±0.29) 0.85(±0.03)
Cycocel @ 2000 ppm 129.33(±1.45) 22.00(±1.53) 7.86(±0.34) 42.00(±1.16) 4.81(±0.19) 0.82(±0.03)
SED(0.05) 2.89 3.80 0.68 1.77 0.27 0.05
LSD(0.05) 6.30** 8.28* 1.47** 3.86** 0.58** 0.10**
Data in parenthesis indicated standard errors within replicates. SED stands for standard error of difference among means. LSD
stands for least significant difference among means. SED and LSD are calculated at 5% level of probability. * and ** indicated
significant and highly significant statistical difference among treatments respectively.

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Application of plant growth regulators on Chrysanthemum cv. Paintball

photosynthates. These results are in agreement with Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis,
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