Loading...
A cultivation study of the growth parameters and flowering Initiation of Streptocarus formosus for the flowering potlant Production industry
Author(s)
Viljoen, Cherise Christina
Date Issued
2020
Type
Thesis
Publisher
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
Abstract
The purpose for this study was to investigate whether Streptocarpus formosus was suitable for
cultivation in hydroponics and to determine whether different solution temperatures in the root
zone of the plants would have an effect on the vegetative growth, semi-dormancy and
inflorescence formation of the plant. The experiment was conducted over a period of 8 weeks.
Fifty plants were cultivated from one initial mother plant obtained from Kirstenbosch National
Botanical Garden, Cape Town. All the plants were planted in Leca, a soilless inert growth
medium, held suspended in a deep water hydroponic system with identical concentrations of
nutrient solution. Five treatments were evaluated with 10 sample replicates. Treatments were
made up of 5 different temperatures, namely: 18 degrees Celsius (TEMP1), 22 degrees
Celsius (TEMP2)' 26 degrees Celsius (TEMP3) which was used as the control, 30 degrees
Celsius (TEMP4), 34 degrees Celsius (TEMP5). Leaf and root lengths; number of leaves,
abscission layers, flower buds and flowers; and wet weight were all measured pre-and postharvest.
Chapter 2 reviewed the commercial potential of Streptocarpus formosus as a flowering potted
plant. It was found that S. formosus has economic importance not only as a potted indoor
house plant but also for use outdoors and possibly could be considered for the cut flower
market. It can also make significant contributions to the breeding development of further
Streptocarpus hybrids.
In chapter 3 it was seen that the various treatments had significant effects in terms of plant
vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. Treatment WT1 showed the highest
individual mean value for vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. The lowest
individual mean value for vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. was
observed in treatment WT5. Overall treatments with a lower temperature regime had better
vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development, that being WT1-WT2, while the higher
temperature regimes WT3-WT4 showed sub-optimal root growth and the highest, WT5
resulted in negative values.
. In chapter 4 it was seen that the various treatments had significant effects in terms of semidormancy
in the plant abscission layer formation and inflorescence development. Treatment
WT1 showed the highest individual mean value for inflorescence development. The lowest
individual mean value for inflorescence development was observed in treatment WT5. All the
treatments showed an optimal result for overcoming the formation of abscission layers.
Chapter 5 investigated a detailed protocol for production and cultivation of Streptocarpus
formosus as a commercial flowering pot plant for both indoors and outdoors where it could also
be used as a bedding plant and even as a cut flower for the vase.
Overall this study has found that S. formosus is suitable for cultivation as a flowering pot plant
and that while root zone heating will overcome the eco-dormancy period in cultivation it will
have limited positive effects of the vegetative growth, and no positive effects on inflorescence
formation during this eco-dormancy period. This research has shown that the lowest
temperature treatment had the most advantageous result on the vegetative growth of the plant.
cultivation in hydroponics and to determine whether different solution temperatures in the root
zone of the plants would have an effect on the vegetative growth, semi-dormancy and
inflorescence formation of the plant. The experiment was conducted over a period of 8 weeks.
Fifty plants were cultivated from one initial mother plant obtained from Kirstenbosch National
Botanical Garden, Cape Town. All the plants were planted in Leca, a soilless inert growth
medium, held suspended in a deep water hydroponic system with identical concentrations of
nutrient solution. Five treatments were evaluated with 10 sample replicates. Treatments were
made up of 5 different temperatures, namely: 18 degrees Celsius (TEMP1), 22 degrees
Celsius (TEMP2)' 26 degrees Celsius (TEMP3) which was used as the control, 30 degrees
Celsius (TEMP4), 34 degrees Celsius (TEMP5). Leaf and root lengths; number of leaves,
abscission layers, flower buds and flowers; and wet weight were all measured pre-and postharvest.
Chapter 2 reviewed the commercial potential of Streptocarpus formosus as a flowering potted
plant. It was found that S. formosus has economic importance not only as a potted indoor
house plant but also for use outdoors and possibly could be considered for the cut flower
market. It can also make significant contributions to the breeding development of further
Streptocarpus hybrids.
In chapter 3 it was seen that the various treatments had significant effects in terms of plant
vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. Treatment WT1 showed the highest
individual mean value for vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. The lowest
individual mean value for vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development. was
observed in treatment WT5. Overall treatments with a lower temperature regime had better
vegetative growth, leaf formation and root development, that being WT1-WT2, while the higher
temperature regimes WT3-WT4 showed sub-optimal root growth and the highest, WT5
resulted in negative values.
. In chapter 4 it was seen that the various treatments had significant effects in terms of semidormancy
in the plant abscission layer formation and inflorescence development. Treatment
WT1 showed the highest individual mean value for inflorescence development. The lowest
individual mean value for inflorescence development was observed in treatment WT5. All the
treatments showed an optimal result for overcoming the formation of abscission layers.
Chapter 5 investigated a detailed protocol for production and cultivation of Streptocarpus
formosus as a commercial flowering pot plant for both indoors and outdoors where it could also
be used as a bedding plant and even as a cut flower for the vase.
Overall this study has found that S. formosus is suitable for cultivation as a flowering pot plant
and that while root zone heating will overcome the eco-dormancy period in cultivation it will
have limited positive effects of the vegetative growth, and no positive effects on inflorescence
formation during this eco-dormancy period. This research has shown that the lowest
temperature treatment had the most advantageous result on the vegetative growth of the plant.
Additional information
Thesis (Master of Horticultural Science)--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2020
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
Viljoen_Cherise_192019473.pdf
Size
6.84 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):66be6e3b41c4adf5187b148d67a27781