<b>Effect of soil-water tension on cut chrysanthemum floral quality and longevity</b>

Abstract

The experiment was carried out on the Steltenpool property, in the Holambra II District of the Paranapanema (SP) municipality. The research principal objective was to identify the soil water tension which would result in improved quality and greater longevity for cut chrysanthemums, Dark Orange Reagan cultivar. The treatments were defined for ten tension levels: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 and 50 kPa. In the last evaluation, when the chrysanthemums were showing open flowers, some plants were taken to the FCA/UNESP Department of Horticulture laboratory and submitted to two treatments to maintain longevity. The treatments were: T1, treatment with distilled water; T2, treatment with distilled water + gibberellic acid (GA3 30 mg.L-1). Daily analyses with specific formulae were realized, with notes attributed to each plant. Three repetitions for each tension treatment were used, with 30 stems for T1 and 30 for T2, totaling 60 stems. The stems were conditioned in pet bottles filled with 500 mL of water. The notes were given according to the following criteria: (1) generalized yellowing, soften stems, advanced wilting and discard; (2) onset of yellowing and wilting; (3) onset of falling leaves; (4) some wilted leaves; (5) normal green inflorescent turgid leaves (best quality). The conclusions drawn from the results obtained were that a greater number of A1 packets, of the best quality standard, were found with tensions of 20 and 50 kPa and that greater longevity was achieved using gibberellin (GA3) at a concentration of 30 mg.L-1, at tensions of 30 and 50 kPa .