EFFECTS OF DAY AND NIGHT TEMPERATURE AND TYPE OF CONTAINER ON THE GROWTH OF F1 HYBRID ANNUALS IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

Abstract

The effects of three day/night temperatures (18/12 C, 24/18 C, and 30/24 C), and two types of containers (clay and plastic) on the seedling growth of three F1 hybrid annuals were determined after 14 days of controlled‐environment treatment. A day/night temperature of 18/12 C was severely limiting to the early seedling growth of ‘Blue Blazer’ ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum Mill.), ‘Pink Cascade’ petunia (Petunia hybrida Vilm.), and ‘Double Eagle’ marigold (Tagetes erecta L.). Raising the day/night temperature to 24/18 C resulted in striking increases in growth in both clay and plastic pots. Fresh and dry weights of tops for all three species were increased four‐ to fivefold, and leaf areas of ageratum and petunia were increased more than fivefold irrespective of container. Height and node number were also increased significantly but to a much lesser degree. A day/night temperature of 30/24 C appeared to be optimum for early seedling growth of F1 hybrid annuals the optimum being based on dry matter accumulation, stem elongation, node development, and leaf area production. Growth of lateral shoots was greatly stimulated at 30/24 C, especially in marigold. There were no appreciable differences in fresh or dry weight of tops or in leaf area between plants in clay and plastic containers at any of the three day/night temperatures.