Gibberellin and polyamines effects in growth and flowering of New Guinea impatiens

Abstract

To meet the high demand of the consumer market for ornamental plants, various techniques are used to increase production and flowers quality, through growth regulators. Despite all the benefits arising from the use of regulators, it is essential to establish concentrations that meet the purpose of their use. The aim of the study was to evaluate the growing and flowering characteristics of Impatiens hawkeri, after the exogenous application of different dosages of spermine, spermidine and gibberellic acid. Two pulverizations were made separated by 15 days, with polyamines (500/2,000 and 1,000 μM), or gibberellic acid (50 and 100 μM), and for the control, water was used. The evaluated parameters were the number of leaves, plant height, number of flower buds, dry and fresh weights of the root system and the aerial parts, and also volume of the root system and the chlorophyll content (SPAD). The treatments with gibberellin caused higher averages in all measurements, except for SPAD. Based on the results obtained, the use of gibberellin with the dosage of 100 µM as a regulator is the most appropriate to meet the needs of the Impatiens hawkeri market with more vigorous plants and with a greater number of flowers.