Abstract

Globba (Zingiberaceae) are attractive herbaceous plants widely used as ornamental plants. However, cultivation is limited because of low propagation rate and depends on the season only. This research aimed to compare growth and physiological responses of Globba schomburgkii Hook. f. and Globba marantina L. under both soil and hydroponic conditions. In vitro plantlets (8 cm in height) were transplanted to a hydroponic culture with the nutrient film technique (NFT). In soil culture, the plantlets were transplanted to small pots containing sand: burned rice husk: peat moss (1:1:1 by volume). Vegetative growth characteristics were measured at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after transplanting (DAT), whereas reproductive growth and physiological characteristics were measured at 60 DAT. All there was 100% survival in both growth conditions. Plants of both species grown in hydroponic conditions had higher shoot length, leaf area and stem diameter, except number of shoots than when propagated in soil conditions. Moreover, both species grown in hydroponics had earlier inflorescences and more flowers, indicating that they can be flowering out of season. Additionally, in hydroponic conditions both species had significant higher stomatal conductivity, whereas there were no significant differences in photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates and leaf temperature when compared with soil conditions. Therefore, our study provides evidence that G. schomburgkii and G. marantina are capable of adapting to hydroponic conditions and that hydroponics may be a suitable method for propagating Globba and other ginger plant species into cut flower or potted plants all year round.

Highlights

  • The genus Globba is a perennial herb and it’s an ornamental of Zingiberaceae family in Thailand with high economic value due to demand for its attractive inflorescence

  • Our study provides evidence that G. schomburgkii and G. marantina are capable of adapting to hydroponic conditions and that hydroponics may be a suitable method for propagating Globba and other ginger plant species into cut flower or potted plants all year round

  • Hydroponic systems have became popular in agricultural activities

Read more

Summary

INTRODUCTION

The genus Globba is a perennial herb and it’s an ornamental of Zingiberaceae family in Thailand with high economic value due to demand for its attractive inflorescence. The high yield nutrient film technique (NFT) system can be used for cut flower production and for propagation of many plant species (Monnet et al, 2002; Nosir, 2011). We were interested in investigating the growth of the plant in family Zingiberaceae using a hydroponic system to find the possibility of a new way to support and production the genus Globba species and other related plants to cut flowers economically in the near future. We hypothesized that both G. schomburgkii and G. marantina grow faster and would start early flowering in hydroponic culture than in soil culture. We predict that hydroponic grown plants will have growth rate greater parameters

MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
CONCLUSION
Conflict of interests
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call