Response of Freesia Hybrida Plant to Spraying with Roselle Calyx Extract (Hibiscus Sabbdariffa L.) and Vitamin B1 Extract in Growth Characteristics

Abstract

An experiment was conducted at the nursery of Agriculture Faculty during growing season 2014 – 2015 to study the effect of spraying Roselle extract and vitamin B1 on growth and flowering characteristics of freesia plant. Experiment was adopted a Randomized Complete Block Design (R.C.B.D) with three replicates in two factors, First three concentration of spraying Roselle calyx extract i.e. (0, 5 and 10) g.L^-1. Second three concentration of vitamin B1 i.e. (0, 20 and 40) mg. L^-1. Means were compared by using Least Significant Difference (L.S.D) test at a probability of 0.05.   Results showed that spraying Roselle calyx extract at a concentration 10g.L-1 and vitamin B1 at concentration 20mg. L^-1 increased the number of leaves per plant significantly to 8.67, shoot dry weight to 4.66g, content of chlorophyll A,B and Total in leaves to 56.01,25.00 and 68.09mg. 100g^-1 fresh weight, inflorescence stalk length to 26.67cm, diameter of floret to 4.67cm, number of floret to 11.67floret, inflorescence ^-1, and number of corm to 3.67corm. plant-1, diameters of corm to1.63cm and decreased number of day to flowering time to 125.00 day, compared to the control which gave the lowest values( 3.87life. plant-1, 1.26g, 42,44, 12.51 and 53.0409mg. 100g^-1 fresh weight, 14.40cm, 2.67mm,4.67 floret. inflorescence ^-1, 2.00corm. plant-1 and 1.03cm) and increased number of days  to flowering time to 140 days.                                                                                                                                 

Keywords: Freesia Hybrida, Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Roselle Plant (Hibiscus Sabbdariffa L.) Extract.