The Growth and Yield of Marigold Flowers (Tagetes erecta L.) on Gibberellins Concentration and Pinching Time

¹ Department of Agrotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional “Veteran” Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta 55282, Indonesia
² Director of The Samarkand Branch of Tashkent State Agrarian University

¹ Corresponding author: heti_astuti@yahoo.co.id

Abstract

Public awareness of beauty and environmental sustainability is getting better. The tropical climate in Indonesia allows many floricultural products to grow well. Considering that the potential is still very large but has not been fully exploited, efforts are needed to encourage floriculture to be more developed. We also need to focus on improving the method of cultivating plants in order to increase their economic value, without destroying the environment. Marigold is one of the most popular multifunctional ornamental plants. The problem in its cultivation is the presence of apical dominance which inhibits the growth of lateral shoots. Vertical growth will encourage flowering lateral shoots. Marigold flowering is affected by the number of flowering branches, so these branches need to be pruned. The aim of this study was to examine the interaction between GA3 concentration and pinching time on the growth and yield of marigold plants. This research was a field experiment with a split plot design consisting of two factors. The first factors as main plot, namely GA3 concentration (15, 200 and 250 ppm) and second factors as sub plot, namely pinching time (14, 21 and 28 days after planting). It was found that the interaction between gibberellins concentration of 200 ppm and pinching time of 14 DAP showed the fastest time of flower appearance. All concentrations of gibberellins gave the same good results for all parameters. Pinching time of 28 DAP gave the best results on plant height 35 DAP and number of flowers.