Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
The response of the "Yellow" cultivar of "bedding" chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum indicum L.) grown commercially in Tamil Nadu to artificially modified photoperiods was studied. Long day treatment (24 hours of daily light period) for 10, 20 and 30 days as well as short day treatments to give 14 and 16 hours of daily dark period for 10, 20 and 30 days were involed.
Flower bud appearance was progressively delayed by long day treatments, with the maximum delay under LD treatment for 30 days. LD treatments depressed the yield but slightly increased the flower diameter. Short day treatment with daily dark period of 14 hours for 30 days registered the earliest flower bud appearance, the least time from planting to end of flowering and the maximum flower output. The same treatment for 20 days ranked next.
