Growth and Development and Effect of Growing Media on <I>Sandersonia aurantiaca</I> Hook. Production in Thailand

Abstract

An experiment was studied growth and development of Sandersonia aurantiaca Hook. using 3-5 g tuber weight. Plants were grown in plot with 70 x 300 cm plot size. The growing media comprised with soil : sand : rice husk charcoal 1:1:1 by volume were used and plants were grown under plastic greenhouse at the Royal Agricultural Station Inthanon. The result found that plant height and number of leaves increased and reached a maximum at average of 51.4 cm and 24 leaves per plant at 12 weeks after planting. The flowering occurred at 45 days after planting with an average of 3.6 flowers per plant, which was lower than commercial standard. The tuberization occurred at 10 weeks after planting and increase tuber size until plant dormancy at 18 weeks. The nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium contents increased in above ground organs and under ground organs along with the increase of plant growth. The effect of growing media on growth and development of Sandersonia, using 3-5 g of tuber weight. Plants were grown in black bags. Four formulas of growing media i.e. 1) soil : sand  1:1, 2) soil : sand : rice husk charcoal 1:1:1, 3) soil : sand : coconut dust 1:1:1, and 4) soil : sand : rice husk charcoal : coconut dust 1:1:1:1 by volume were used. The result showed that the growing media comprised of  soil : sand : coconut dust  with 1:1:1 and soil : sand : rice husk charcoal : coconut dust 1:1:1:1 gave the best results of  vegetative growth, flower and tuber qualities.