Enlarging of Grape Hyacinth Bulb at Different Nutrient Solution Ratios in Soilless Culture

Abstract

ABSTRACT Grape hyacinth bulbs must be of a certain size in order to bloom. It is commercially important to extend the circumference of grape hyacinth bulbs in a short time. This study was conducted to determine the effects of different nutrient solution rates on the bulb enlargement, the bulblet formation and plant growth characteristics in soilless culture. Grape hyacinth bulbs (Muscari armeniacum Leichtlin ex Baker) with a circumference of 3 cm were grown in perlite bag culture at six different nutrient solution rates (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%, 125% and 150% of the final nutrient solution). According to the variance analysis; the effect of nutrient solution ratios on bulb diameter, bulb weight, bulblet number, adventitious root number, adventitious root length, adventitious root weight, leaf length and leaf weight was found to be insignificant. Bulb diameter enlarged between 14.44% and 29.13%. Bulb diameter varied between 10.95 mm and 12.20 mm, bulb weight 0.74–0.90 g, bulblet number 1.00–1.56 piece, leaf length 23.05–27.33 cm. Electrical conductivity (EC) of drainage waters increased with increasing nutrient solution ratio. A positive correlation was determined between leaf number and bulb diameter, nutrient solution ratio and EC. In addition, a positive correlation was determined between bulb weight, leaf number and EC and bulblet number. All these results showed that grape hyacinth bulbs could maintain their normal development at low nutrient solution doses, thus saving on fertilizers.