Phenology of Solidago canadensis L. and Delphinium elatum cultivated under greenhouse conditions and association with micro-climate variables

Abstract

Solidago canadensis L. cv. Tara and Delphinium elatum, the hybrid White River are summer flowers with great agronomic potential. The goal of this study was to establish the phenology of these species grown under greenhouse conditions, as well as to determine the correlation between climatic elements (relative humidity - RH, growing degree-days for development - GDD and soil moisture - SM) with growth variables (stem length and diameter, fresh weight FW - and dry weight - DW) in S. canadensis and D. elatum. The life cycle for S. canadensis and D. elatum ended when reaching 30% of the flower opening, the stem length reached 118.05 and 123.74 cm, at 94 and 77 days, respectively. The growth of both species showed a logistic curve pattern throughout the crop cycle; S. canadensis showed maximum values for absolute growth rate (AGR) and relative growth rate (RGR) at 77 and 42 days after transplanting (DAT), respectively; in contrast to D. elatum which occurred at 77 and 28 DAT. On the other hand, for the correlation between climatic elements and growth variables in S. canadensis, the GDD and RH were directly correlated with both FW and DW, stem diameter and length, while an inverse correlation occurred for SM. D. elatum showed a direct correlation between climatic conditions and growth variables.