SEEDLING PERFORMANCE WITHIN EIGHT DIFFERENT SEED-SIZE ALPINE FORBS UNDER EXPERIMENTATION WITH IRRADIANCE AND NUTRIENT GRADIENTS

摘要

Seeds of five Obligate LDPs (Pot Marigold cv. Resina, Annual Phlox cv. Astoria Magenta, Cornflower cv. FlorenceBlue, Oriental Poppy cv. Burning Heart and Flax cv. Scarlet Flax) were sown into module trays containing homogeneousleaf mould compost. After germination, saplings of each cultivar were shifted into four light intensity chambers (42, 45, 92and 119μmol.m-2.s-1) for a duration of 8h (from 08:00 to 16:00h). The findings of this study showed that Obligate LDPsgrown under high irradiance (92 and 119μmol.m-2.s-1) flowered earlier. However, there was a non-significant differencebetween 42/45μmol.m-2.s-1 and 92/119μmol.m-2.s-1 irradiance levels. Although Obligate LDPs under 119μmol.m-2.s-1flowered few days earlier than those received 92μmol.m-2.s-1 irradiance but the quality of plants (plant height and leafsize/appearance) was inferior. It is therefore concluded that for better plant quality and early flowering Obligate LDPsshould be grown under 92μmol.m-2.s-1 irradiance.