Abstract
Gladiolus is in demand worldwide as a cut-flower or landscaping plant, because of its superior commercial and ornamental value. Application of plant-based biostimulants has gained interest in the horticulture industry as an innovative and promising approach to ensure enhanced and sustainable yields along with better product quality. The influence of pre-plant corm soaks supplemented to 5% (v/v) with an aqueous extract from Moringa oleifera leaves (MLE) either alone or in combination with 50 mg/L salicylic acid (SA) or 50 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA) on the vegetative, physiological, and ornamental characteristics of potted gladiolus (Gladiolus grandiflorus) was investigated. In general, the treatment order for greatest horticultural value for all the parameters examined was: MLE + SA + GA > MLE + GA or SA individually > MLE alone > water-only control. Compared to other treatments, corms soaked in MLE + SA + GA had the earliest sprout time (3.7 days earlier than control), shortest production time (11 days earlier than control), tallest plant (159.5 cm), greatest number of leaves per plant (8.85 leaves), greatest maximum leaf area (66 cm2), highest SPAD reading (112) and photosynthetic activity (6.7 mmol m−2 s−1), longest spike length (91 cm), greatest number of florets per spike (20 florets), longest vase life (14.8 days), greatest N (1.53%), P (0.28%), and K (0.64%) concentrations, and largest corm diameter (4.68 cm) and mass (22.25 g). The highest total protein and proline concentrations were observed with the combined application of MLE + GA + SA. Our findings suggested that MLE either alone or in combination with other plant growth regulators not only increased the yield and quality of cut spikes, but also prolonged the vase life of cut gladiolus.
Highlights
Gladiolus (Iridaceae) is a monocotyledonous, herbaceous, perennial geophyte and cormous ornamental
Our findings suggested that Moringa oleifera leaves (MLE) either alone or in combination with other plant growth regulators increased the yield and quality of cut spikes, and prolonged the vase life of cut gladiolus
The addition of both salicylic acid (SA) and gibberellic acid (GA) to MLE significantly shortened the time to 50% germination by nearly another 1.5 days to 60% of the time needed for corms in the control treatment (Table 1)
Summary
Gladiolus (Iridaceae) is a monocotyledonous, herbaceous, perennial geophyte and cormous ornamental. Gladiolus is commercially planted by corms to produce cut flowers, and potted and garden ornamental plants. Cut gladiolus flowers highly rank in global floral markets with consistent demand throughout the year due to their unique ornamental value [1]. The demand for cut gladiolus continues to increase for local use, and for export purposes in some countries [1,2]. Maintaining cut flower quality is an important challenge for growers globally [3]. Successful cut flower production relies on several important factors, including a minimum production cost, and a short and predictable production time [4], as well as an extended post-harvest longevity [1]
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