Effect of cultivars, growth regulators and photoperiods on production of potted chrysanthemum, Dendranthema grandiflora Tzvelev

The study was conducted on two cultivars of chrysanthemum namely Ajay and UHFSChr-Collection 1 in pots containing a mixture of sand, soil and well rotten FYM (1: 1: 2 v/v). Seven growth regulator treatments viz control (distilled water), paclobutrazol (60 and 90 ppm), daminozide (2500 and 3000 ppm) and ethephon (500 and 750 ppm) were used and the experiment was replicated thrice. In general controlled photoperiod applied was found better for flowering over natural photoperiod. Findings revealed that cultivar Ajay was more suitable for growing as pot mum as compared to UHFSChr-Collection 1. However under natural photoperiodic conditions plants after pinching should be sprayed with paclobutrazol (60 or 90 ppm) or daminozide (2500 or 3000 ppm) in case of both the cultivars. Under controlled photoperiodic conditions growth regulator application was not necessary for the production of cultivar Ajay and cultivar UHFSChr-Collection 1 may be sprayed with paclobutazol (60 ppm) for quality pot mum production.