The Journal of Research ANGRAU

J.Res. ANGRAU 36(1) 30 - 35, 2008
EFFECT OF PINCHING AT DIFFERENT DAYS AFTER PLANTING ON
FLOWERING BEHAVIOUR IN THREE CULTIVARS OF CARNATION
(Dianthus Caryophyllus Linn)
K. UMA MAHESWARA RAO, R. CHANDRA SEKHAR,
J. DILIP BABU and M. RAJ KUMAR
Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture,
Acharya N.G.Ranga Agricultural University,
Rajendranagar, Hyderabad - 500 030
ABSTRACT
The present study was under taken in a commercial floriculture farm under captive cultivation with
three cultivars of carnation during July 2005 to January 2006. The experiment was laid out in randomized
block design. Pinched plants recorded significantly minimum time from first flower bud appearance to flower
harvesting. Pinching at 20 days after planting was most promising. The duration for first flower bud appearance
was reduced by 10.6, 12.0 and 15.6 days in Domingo, Angelica and Golden boy respectively compared to
unpinched plants. The time for 50 % flower bud appearance was also reduced by 39.0, 44.2 and 57.0 days by
the pinching treatment at 20 days after planting compared to control. The color break stage was reduced by
36.1, 64.0 and 58.3 days when pinched at 20 days after planting compared to unpinched cultivars. Longest
flowers were noticed with pinching at 20 days after planting in cv. Domingo. Diameter of the flower was
maximum in Cv. Domingo with pinching at 25 days after planting compared to other intervals. The number of
flowers were maximum with pinching at 20 days after planting compared to pinching at other intervals.
Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus Linn., Fy: Caryophyllaceae) is extensively cultivated
for cut flowers in Columbia, Japan, Israel, Netherlands etc. Staby etal. (1978) reported that
about 34% of the total flower consumers, in their survey had a liking for carnation compared
to only 20 percent of the people who favoured roses. The maximum cultivation of carnation
on an area of 2500 ha is in Columbia (Bhattacharjee, 2006). In India, carnations are grown in
Nasik, Pune, Srinagar Valley, Jammu, Solan, Kufri, Nauni, Palampur, and surrounding areas
of Hyderabad (Mukherjee, 1996).
Carnation exhibits apical dominance which influences the development of axillary
shoots and flower production (Cline, 1997). Generally, carnation produces one main shoot
which terminates into a flower bud. After the cessation of terminal growth, lateral shoots
develop. They also bear flower buds. Pinching of apical portion of the shoot result in early
production of large number of axillary shoots resulting in more number of flowers. To get
maximum number of quality flowers, time of pinching is very important which will also regulate
the time of harvest. Research works in this aspect on commercial cultivars of carnation is
meagre and hence, the present study was designed.
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