Effect of photoperiod manipulation on growth attributes of potted chrysanthemum cultivars. (Dendranthema Grandiflora Tzevelev.)

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of photoperiod manipulation on growth, flowering and quality of potted chrysanthemum. It consisted of three levels of photoperiodic modules and seven varieties. Among the photoperiodic modules maximum vegetative growth, delayed flowering and better flower quality were recorded in photoperiodic module P₁ (12 h dark, 12 h light) while minimum vegetative growth, early flowering and the less quality flowers were obtained in photoperiodic module of P₃ (16 h dark, 8 h light). photoperiodic module of P₂ (14 h dark, 10 h light) was on par with some of the vegetative and flowering attributes. Among the cultivars, the vegetative growth attributes, flowering and flower quality attributes significantly differed. From the results it can be conclude that, initiation of photoperiodic module P₁ (12 h dark, 12 h light), after attaining standard growth size will helps to increase vegetative growth, flower as well as flower quality of potted chrysanthemum cultivars P₂ (14 h dark, 10 h light) was on par with most of growth and flowering parameters. While, P₃ (16 h dark, 18 h light) was early to flowering. Among the cultivars cv. Pink Deco produced minimum plant spread and smaller flower while Yellow Decorative and cv. Red Deco Spoon produced maximum plant spread which are the desired characters for potted plants.