TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparison of soaking corms with moringa leaf extract alone or in combination with synthetic plant growth regulators on the growth, physiology and vase life of sword lily
AU - Zulfiqar, Faisal
AU - Younis, Adnan
AU - Finnegan, Patrick M.
AU - Ferrante, Antonio
PY - 2020/11
Y1 - 2020/11
N2 - Gladiolus is in demand worldwide as a cut-flower or landscaping plant, because of its superior commercial and ornamental value. Application of plant-based biostimulants has gained interest in the horticulture industry as an innovative and promising approach to ensure enhanced and sustainable yields along with better product quality. The influence of pre-plant corm soaks supplemented to 5% (v/v) with an aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaves (MLE) either alone or in combination with 50 mg/L salicylic acid (SA) or 50 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA) on the vegetative, physiological, and ornamental characteristics of potted gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) was investigated. In general, the treatment order for greatest horticultural value for all the parameters examined was: MLE + SA + GA > MLE + GA or SA individually > MLE alone > water-only control. Compared to other treatments, corms soaked in MLE + SA + GA had the earliest sprout time (3.7 days earlier than control), shortest production time (11 days earlier than control), tallest plant (159.5 cm), greatest number of leaves per plant (8.85 leaves), greatest maximum leaf area (66 cm2), highest SPAD reading (112) and photosynthetic activity (6.7 mmol m−2 s−1), longest spike length (91 cm), greatest number of florets per spike (20 florets), longest vase life (14.8 days), greatest N (1.53%), P (0.28%), and K (0.64%) concentrations, and largest corm diameter (4.68 cm) and mass (22.25 g). The highest total protein and proline concentrations were observed with the combined application of MLE + GA + SA. Our findings suggested that MLE either alone or in combination with other plant growth regulators not only increased the yield and quality of cut spikes, but also prolonged the vase life of cut gladiolus.
AB - Gladiolus is in demand worldwide as a cut-flower or landscaping plant, because of its superior commercial and ornamental value. Application of plant-based biostimulants has gained interest in the horticulture industry as an innovative and promising approach to ensure enhanced and sustainable yields along with better product quality. The influence of pre-plant corm soaks supplemented to 5% (v/v) with an aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaves (MLE) either alone or in combination with 50 mg/L salicylic acid (SA) or 50 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA) on the vegetative, physiological, and ornamental characteristics of potted gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) was investigated. In general, the treatment order for greatest horticultural value for all the parameters examined was: MLE + SA + GA > MLE + GA or SA individually > MLE alone > water-only control. Compared to other treatments, corms soaked in MLE + SA + GA had the earliest sprout time (3.7 days earlier than control), shortest production time (11 days earlier than control), tallest plant (159.5 cm), greatest number of leaves per plant (8.85 leaves), greatest maximum leaf area (66 cm2), highest SPAD reading (112) and photosynthetic activity (6.7 mmol m−2 s−1), longest spike length (91 cm), greatest number of florets per spike (20 florets), longest vase life (14.8 days), greatest N (1.53%), P (0.28%), and K (0.64%) concentrations, and largest corm diameter (4.68 cm) and mass (22.25 g). The highest total protein and proline concentrations were observed with the combined application of MLE + GA + SA. Our findings suggested that MLE either alone or in combination with other plant growth regulators not only increased the yield and quality of cut spikes, but also prolonged the vase life of cut gladiolus.
KW - Cut flowers
KW - Gibberellic acid
KW - Gladiolus
KW - Photosynthetic activity
KW - Plant biostimulant
KW - Salicylic acid
KW - Sustainable agriculture
KW - Vase life
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096167069&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/plants9111590
DO - 10.3390/plants9111590
M3 - Article
C2 - 33212881
AN - SCOPUS:85096167069
SN - 2223-7747
VL - 9
SP - 1
EP - 9
JO - Plants
JF - Plants
IS - 11
M1 - 1590
ER -