Effect of Foliar Supplied PGRs on Flower Growth and Antioxidant Activity of African Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.)

Marigold is one of the commercially exploited flowering crops that belongs to the family Asteraceae. The production of economical yield and better quality of marigold flowers requires proper crop management techniques. Crop regulation is an important technique to make the marigold production profitable. This can be done by adopting application of plant growth regulators (PGRs). The present study was designed to investigate the effect of PGRs on flowering and antioxidant activity of two cultivars of African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) viz. “Pusa Narangi Gainda” (hereinafter referred to as Narangi) and “Pusa Basanthi Gainda” (hereafter referred to as Basanthi). Plants were sprayed with abscisic acid (ABA), N-acetyl thiazolidine (NAD), gibberellic acid (GA3), salicylic acid (SA), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and oxalic acid (OA) at the concentrations of 100, 150, 250, 300 and 800 mg·L−1, each. Results revealed that the plants treated with 500–600 mg·L−1 IBA exhibited maximum increase in floral diameter (34–51%). The use of 500–550 mg·L−1 IBA exhibited maximal enhancement in flower fresh weight (21–92%). The exogenously applied OA significantly (p ≤ 0.05) improved flower dry weight, total phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents and reducing power ability of marigold plants. Overall, “Narangi” performed better than “Basanthi”, in terms of flowering and antioxidant activity. Conclusively, the results suggest that foliar application of PGRs favors flowering and antioxidant activity of African marigold.

Influence of foliar fertilizer Panamin Agro on the growth and decorative characteristics of Tagetes species in leaf application

Species of the genus Tagetes are some of the most common plants in gardening practice in Bulgaria. One of the key problems in the production of planting material of these species is the slow growth of seedlings in the beginning of their cultivating. The application of foliar fertilizers is one way to solve this problem. This study examines the impact of foliar fertilizer Panamin Agro on growth processes and biometric characteristics of three species of tagetes: T. erecta L.; T. patula L.. and T. signata Bartl. Foliar fertilizer Panamin Agro was used in 3 different concentrations: 0.5%; 1.0% and 1.5%. The treatment started with the formation of the first true leaf in 90% of the cultivated plants and was applied every 14 days three times until the seedlings were taken outdoors and planted in a permanent place. It was found that the growth characteristics of the treated plants exceed substantially those of the untreated control plants. With the highest and thickest stems of plants, the highest number and size of leaves and flowers and accelerated, enhanced and prolonged the period of photosynthesis are three species of tagetes treated with 1.0% PanaminAgro. Treatment with a concentration of 1.5% does not always have a positive effect on the growth characteristics of the treated plants. The effect of leaf treatment with PanaminAgro on the biometric characteristics of the root system is insignificant. We offer the use of PanaminAgro in the nursery practice in the production of planting material of african marigold in a concentration of 1.0%.

Influence of Foliar Application of Glycinebetaine on Tagetes Erecta L Yield Cultivated under Salinity Conditions

Tagetes genus of Composite family consider one of the most favorite floriculture plant. Therefore, of particular interest examine the salt tolerance of this bedding and coloring agent plant. In this research, was report the role of glycinebetaine (GB) in attenuating the adverse impacts of salt stress in African marigold plant, along with their anti-oxidative capacities and biochemical attributes. The salt stressed African marigold (100 and 150 mM NaCl) was treated with GB at 200 mM, beside untreated control plants. According to the obtained results, the growth characters were negatively in salt stressed plants but a mitigate impact of GB were observed in this respect. Obviously, the morphological as well as some physiological characters were reduced with salinity treatments while GB treatment reverses these effects. Overall, the alleviate impact of GB on the negative impact of salt stress was enhanced through improving total phenolic and antioxidant enzyme activity. Further, it is concluded that GB concentration induces the activities of antioxidative enzymes which scavenged ROS increased under saline conditions.

RESPONSE OF PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ON THE GROWTH, FLOWERING AND YIELD ATTRIBUTES OF AFRICAN MARIGOLD (TAGETES ERECTA. L)

Tagetes is a genus of annual, perennial or herbaceous plant in the family Asteraceae. Most of the species have pinnate green leaves. Blooms are naturally occurring in golden, orangeyellow, and white colour, often with maroon highlights. Floral heads are 4 to 6 cm in diameter, generally with both ray florets and disc florets. The present study was conducted at the post graduate research laboratory at Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University to find out the “Effect of plant growth regulators on flowering and yield of African marigold (Tagetes erecta Linn)”. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. There were ten treatments, viz., GA3 100 ppm, GA3 200 ppm and GA3 300 ppm, NAA 100 ppm, NAA 200 ppm, NAA 300 ppm, Ethrel 50 ppm, Ethrel 100 ppm, and Ethrel 150 ppm and control. Among the growth regulators tried, GA3 200 ppm as foliar application on 30 and 60 days after transplanting registered the highest values for plant characters like plant height (47.1 cm), number of branches ( 35.1), days taken to first flower bud appearance (39.3 days), days taken to flower opening (37.6 days), longevity of flower (11.17 days), stalk length (12.1 cm), diameter of flower (7.8 cm), number of flowers per plant (40.3), weight of the single flower (9.1 g), yield of flowers per plant (337 g) and flower yield per plot (11.1 kg). From the present study, it is recommended that spraying of GA3 200 ppm on 30 and 60 days after transplanting improved yield and quality of African marigold flowers.

DRYING TECHNIQUES OF SOME SELECTED ORNAMENTAL FLOWERS-A REVIEWS

Drying of flowers is the method of maintenance of flowers or removing water and moisture. Dehydration is most important for getting dry flowers. There are Many different types of methods use for removing moisture contain from flowers are air drying, embedded (sand, borax, silica gel, and other materials) press drying, freeze drying, microwave oven drying, hot air oven drying, Glycerin drying, freeze drying. Chrysanthemum is one of the most widely cultivated garden flowers and ranks popularity. The Chrysanthemum flower has fully double flowers with flat petals and the central disc is generally absent. Many of the commonly grown marigolds are cultivars of African and French marigolds. Flower petals of African marigold are the best source of carotene for coloring foodstuffs. From the dried flowers varied manufacture are made and use like petal embedded handmade paper, press dried flower products, candle making, pot pourri, floral jewelry etc. This dried plants and flowers materials also used in industry. For chrysanthemum embedded drying is the best in which flower shape, size, structure, colour are maintained and for marigold microwave and air drying techniques are best in size, colour, shape, colour are maintained. KEYWORDS: Drying Techniques, Chrysanthemum, marigold, embedded, microwave