The effectof daylength and supplementary lighting on the growth of Begonia × hiemalis leaf cuttings

Abstract

No consistent differences in growth were observed between leaf cuttings of Rieger begonia ‘Schwabenland Red’ taken from stock plants grown under different daylengths. The effects of supplementary illumination, daylength and polythene-covering treatments applied during the 5-week propagation period were also small. Leaf size did not affect the subsequent development of the cutting, but large leaves trimmed to a size comparable to the smaller leaves rooted poorly and produced few shoots. After rooting, the young plants were very responsive to daylength. Under long days growth was rapid, but under short days a large percentage of the plants failed to regenerate. When shoots did appear on these plants, they were few in number and flowered precociously.