Abstract:
Gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii) is an ornamental cut flower which possesses high demand on
commercial scale in Sri Lanka. But bent neck due to low stem thickness is a major issue
associated with gerbera in floral decorations. Therefore present study was aimed to find out the
best calcium concentration to produce of high quality stem of Gerbera jamesonii as a pre-harvest
treatment. The Experiment was conducted at the Gerbera plant house located at Botanic Gardens,
Henarathgoda, Gampaha by using potted (pot mixture consists of 1:1:1 sand: coir dust and half
burned paddy husk) tissue cultured Gerbera plants, i.e. Variety Fredi. The experiment was
arranged as a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with six treatments randomized in three
replicates. Treatments were the six different calcium concentrations (g), i.e. 0 (control), 0.25,
0.15, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3 applied to the plants in every three weeks. All cultural practices were done
similar to other plants. Once a week measurements were taken on height of the stem, stem
thickness, number of leaves per plant as well as the head diameter. The data obtained were
tabulated and analyzed subjected to the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) procedure of Statistical
Analysis System (SAS). Duncan's New Multiple Range Test (DNMRT) was performed to
compare the differences among treatment means at p=0.05.Stem thickness (mm) had significant
differences (p<0.05) among different calcium concentrations tested. The highest stem thickness
was recorded from the highest calcium concentration applied treatment, i.e. 0.3g whiniest the
lowest from no calcium applied treatment, i.e. control. Head diameter was not significantly
different (p>0.05) within calcium levels of 0.15 and 0.2. Furthermore the highest stem height,
head diameter as well as number of leaves per plant recorded from the highest calcium
concentration applied plants. However, number of leaves per plant was not significant different
(p<0.05) among high calcium concentrations, i.e. 0.3, 0.2 and 0.1. Overall results showed that the application of 0.3g of calcium was the most effective treatment to produce of high quality
stem of Gerbera jamesonii. Overall results showed that the application of 0.3g of calcium was
the most effective treatment to produce of high quality stem for prolonging the vase-life and
improving the postharvest quality of Gerbera jamesonii.
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