SEED QUALITY EVALUATION OF FLOWER SPECIES USED IN DRIED FLORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Abstract

The demand for seeds of flower species used in dried floral arrangements has increased in recent years in Croatia, especially among small growers. High quality seed and plant material are extremely important for commercial floriculture. Vigour, germination potential, seed purity, and package content adjusted to package certificate in relation to the individual species, are essential features of flower production. The aim of the present study was to examine seed quality of the flower species traditionally used in dried floral arrangements, available in the Croatian market in 2011. The quality was assessed by standard ISTA seed testing methods. Nineteen samples of seeds were studied in relation to vigour and germination potential, health condition, emergence rate in containers, time of flowering, length of flowering period, authenticity of certified species, plant height, inflorescence colour, length, height and width, and the optimal drying stage for inflorescence and fruit. The study was conducted with two samples of Amaranthus caudatus, Nigella damascene and Celosia argentea var. cristata, four samples of Helichrysum bracteatum and Limonium sinuatum, one sample of Celosia argentea var. plumosa, Ammobium alatum and Gomphrena globosa, and two samples certified as dry flowers of mixed species. The poorest quality feature of all tested seeds was germination, ranging between 0 and 94%. The most frequent fungus present was Alternaria alternate. All species were correctly certified, except of one sample of Celosia argentea var. cristata and Celosia argentea var. plumose. The study suggests that the Croatian flower market should be supplied with seeds of a higher quality.