Growth and Pigmentation in Three Poinsettia Cultivars
Marmol, Subjibi, and V-17 Angelika cultivars were evaluated under two different growing conditions; Cuautla (average temperature of 24.6 °C, 70% to 80% relative humidity (RH), latitude 18°49', altitude 1,300 msl) and Texcoco (average temperature of 18 °C, 40% to 50% RH, latitude 19°23'40”, altitude 2,250 msl), under greenhouse conditions in 6” pots. Variables considered were: total anthocyanins, carotenoids and chlorophyll content, chlorophyll a, b, and a/b, specific weight and leaf area, to evaluate differences between growing conditions. There were significative differences in total anthocyanin content for `Subjibi' and V-17 `Angelika', being higher in plants grown in Texcoco. In relation to carotenoids and chlorophylls there were differences for plants from the two growing regions, being Cuautla (highest temperature) where these pigments were higher independent of the cultivar. Specific leaf weight was higher for plants grown in Texcoco with significant differences for `Subjibi' and V-17 `Angelika'. Leaf area was higher for the three cultivars in Cuautla throughout the growing period.