EFFECTS OF GIBBERELLIC ACID AND INDOLE-3-ACEDIC ACID ON FLOWERING, STALK ELONGATION AND BULB CHARACTERISTICS OF GLADIOLUS [GLADIOLUS GRANDIFLORUM VAR. WHITE PROSPERITY]]

Abstract

Gladiolus (gladiolus grandifl orum var. white
prosperity) is one of the most popular species of bulbous
fl owering plants widely cultivated in the word. The failure of
cut gladiolus fl owers to open fully after transportation and
storage is a major post harvest problem. The marketability
of these cut fl owers is limited by their short life. This study
was carried out to determine the effect of gibberellic acid (GA)
and indole-3-acedic acid (IAA) on germination, onset fl owering,
open fl ower, vase life and bulb formation of gladioluses
(var. white prosperity). Gibberellic acid at a concentration of
50 (G1), 100 (G2) and 150 (G3) ppm and indole-3-acedic acid
at a concentration of 100 (I1), 150 (I2), 200 (I3) ppm were applied.
In the control group neither GA nor IAA were used. Primarily,
bulbs were treated with the indicated concentrations
of gibberellic acid and indole-3-acedic acid solely for 6 hours
then planted. According to the results obtained, application of
GA (G3) had the highest effect on germination (12 days after
being planted), whereas the control group had lowest effect
(within 21 days). The use of GA at a concentration of 150 ppm
stimulated fl owering. The results obtained indicated that the
GA application (G3) resulted in the largest diameter of the
fl ower rosettes (120mm) compared to the control group (83.5
mm). Treatment with GA (G3) caused an increase in the vase
life of cut fl owers and in the bulb weight which was the highest
among all groups.