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IMPACT OF PROPAGATION MEDIA AND DIFFERENT LIGHT LEVELS ON
VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF BEGONIAS
A.B.M.Jesfar1, A.L.M.Rifky2& M.H.M.Rinos3
1,2Department of Agriculture, Sri Lanka Institute of Advanced Technological Education, Hardy ATI,
Ampara.
3Senior Lecturer, South Eastern University of Sri Lanka, Oluvil Park, Oluvil jesfarabm@yahoo.com,
almrifky@gmail.com, rinosmhm@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: Begonia is a popular flowering and foliage ornamental plant. Details of the
propagation of begonia such as media, light or shade requirement and other needed information are
not readily available. Homogenous wedge leaf cuttings of two different varieties of (Begonia
heracleifolia and Begonia abelcrriere ) were used to propagate young new plants in five different
combinations of growing media composed of sand, top soil and coir dust and four light levels (37%,
60%, 79%, and 100%) with and without application of rooting hormones. A commonly used rooting
hormone "Naphylelacetic acid" (0.3%) as a rooting promoter was used to test the effectiveness in
propagation. Black polythene bags were used as propagation containers. Metal frames were used to
obtain half circle shaped propagators. Transparent polythene was used to protect the propagators from
excess rainwater. A Complete Randomized Design was used with three replicates and data was
analyzed using SAS statistical software package.It revealed that, the application of Napthylacetic acid
as a rooting had no impact on propagation of Begonia varieties studied. Further a rooting medium
composed of top soil: coir dust = 1:1 and 60% light levels were the most suitable conditions for
the successful propagation of begonias through leaf cuttings.
Keywords: Begonia, Propgagation, Media
Introduction
Floriculture is a growing industry in Sri Lanka, where flowering and foliage plants have a
considerable demand in the local and export markets. The demand for the indoor plants has
found to be increasing during the past decades due to urbanization, where people use living
ornaments to enhance the cosmetic effects of houses, hotels and offices.
Begonia is a popular foliage plant grown in Sri Lanka, which includes hundreds of different
varieties. Natural habitats of Begonias are tropical and sub-tropical evergreen rain forests
(Lynn and Grimth, 1997). In a family so diversified as begonia, a clear and well-defined
classification is difficult. Botanically there are two classes namely Fibrous-rooted and
tuberous. Some authorities add a third class haomatous (Graf, 1980). Begonia is commonly
propagated using vegetative means or techniques, where vegetative parts of the mother
plant are used to produce true to type of homogenous new plantlets.
Production of uniform healthy young plants in a relatively shorter period is one of the major
requirements for the survival of the floriculture industry. Begonia can be propagated from
seed (in warm locations), from cuttings of stems, and leaves. Among the above methods
mentioned, the use of leaf cuttings is the most popular method of propagation for
Rhizomatus and Rex Begonias. This method can also be used with the few cane and shrub-
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like begonias where whole leaves, cone leaf cuttings and wedge leaf cuttings can be planted
in proper rooting media which favors good drainage and aeration.
Although the method of propagation have been identified in literatures (Thompson and
Thompson, 1981), the influence of propagation media, light or shade requirements, rooting
pattern and early growth of this species has not been reported.
Therefore, this study was designed to determine the impact of different propagation media
and light levels on the vegetative propagation of begonias.
Objectives
To evaluate the impact of different propagation medias and light levels on the vegetative
propagation of begonias.
To determine the most suitable conditions for the successful propagation of begonias
through leaf cuttings.
Methodology
Location of the study
This experiment was conducted in the plant house of the Department of Crop Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya. Study period was 1st of October 2001 – 11th
of January 2002.
Method of propagation
Homogenous wedge leaf cuttings of two different varieties of Begonias (Begonia
heracleifoliaand Begonia abelcrriere) were used to propagate young plants in five different
combinations of growing media under four shade levels. A commonly used rooting hormone
"Naphylelacetic acid" (0.3%) was used to test the effectiveness in propagation and root
formation. Black polythene bags were used as propagation containers. Metal frames were
used to obtain half circle shaped propagators. Transparent polythene was used to protect
the propagatorsfrom excess rainwater.
Treatment combinations
Medium
Sand, coir dust and topsoil were used according to the following combinations.
1. Pure Sand
2. Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
3. Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
4. Sand:Coir dust = 1: 1
5. Pure Coir dust
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Light levels
Green coloured shade nets were used to obtain the following light levels.
1. 37%light
2. 60%light
3. 79%light
4. 100%light
Hormonal application
A commercial rooting powder containing 0.3% Naphthylacetic acid was used.
1. Applied
2. Not Applied
ExperimentalDesign
A Complete Randomized Design was used with three replicates.
Crop management
The plants were watered at regular intervals (twice a week) in order to maintain a proper
humid environment in the propagators and to provide a moist medium. Regular fungicide
application and regular management practices such asweeding sanitary maintenance and
proper ventilation were adopted.
Data Collection and Analysis
Data collection was done on the following parameters
1. Time taken for the first bud break after planting (In weeks)
2. Total leaf area (cm2)-10 weeks after planting
3. Effective leaf number (single leaves more than 100cm2in size)10 weeks after
planting.
4. Fresh weight of the plant (g) -10 weeks after planting.
5. Dry weight of the plant (g) -10 weeks after planting (Kept in oven at 104°C for 48
hours)
6. Root volume (cm3) -10 weeks after planting (Fluid displacement method)
Data was analyzed using the SAS statistical package to determine the impact of the
treatments on propagation of Begonias. AS the responses of both varieties to the adopted
treatments were similar, the data was pooled for statistical analysis.
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Result and Discussion
Time taken for the first bud break after planting (DBB)
The use of different propagation media, light levels and application of rooting hormone had
no impact on time taken for the first bud break after planting (P=0.05). This indicates that the
above treatments have no impact on time taken for the shoot initiation of the varieties
studied. Among the different media used top soil: coir dust=1: 1 favoured early bud break
(4.90 weeks) whereas pure coir dust delayed bud break (6.38 weeks). Similarly a 79% light
level shortenedthe time taken to initiate first bud (5.2 weeks) while 37% light level delayed
bud break (6.1 weeks).
Table : 1 Impact of potting media, light required and rooting hormones on time
taken for the first bud break after planting (DBB) in Begonia propagules.
Treatments
Mean Values of DBB
Medium
Pure Sand
5.26
Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
4.90
Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
5.59
Sand: Coir dust = 1: 1
5.72
Pure Coir dust
5.38
Light Level
37% light
6.06
60% light
5.45
79% light
5.16
100% light
5.61
Hormone Application
Applied
5.76
Not Applied
5.38
*There was no significant difference between the mean values within a major treatment.
Total Leaf Area (LA)
Application of rooting hormone had no impact on leaf area of both Begonia varieties.
Similarly the different levels of shading had no effect on this parameter. This indicates that
shading has no impact on leaf development and expansion in these two Begonia varieties.
In contrast, the use of different potting media had a significant impact on the leaf area of
begonias (Table 2). The medium with a mixture of top soil: Coir dust = 1:1 produced plants
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with the highest mean total leaf area (68.11 cm2), while pure coir dust produced the lowest
leaf area of 11.79 m2. The greater leaf area in the topsoil: coir dust = 1:1 medium could be
attributed to the incorporation of coconut dust which improves wettability to maintain good
moisture and porosity (Yahya and Ismail, 1996) and (Fjeldet. al. 1993).
Table – 2 Total Leaf Area (LA) as affected by the rooting media, light and rooting hormones in
Begonias.
Treatments
Mean LA
Medium
Pure Sand
35.43 *
Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
68.11 *
Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
35.66 *
Sand: Coir dust = 1: 1
51.54 *
Pure Coir dust
11.79 *
Light Level
37% light
34.46
60% light
47.56
79% light
48.32
100% light
31.68
Hormone Application
Applied
36.30
Not Applied
44.72
*Mean values are significantly different within a major treatment.
The provision of potassium by coir dust could also help to produce large plants. Among the
light treatments 79% light level produced the highest mean total leaf area of 48.32 cm2 and
100% light produced lowest total leaf area which was 31.70 cm2. This clearly illustrated the
requirement of shade for Begonias.
Effective Leaf Number (ELN)
Application of rooting hormone had no impact on the numbers of effective leaves. In
contrast, potting media and shade levels had a significant impact on this parameter
(P=0.05). The medium composed of a mixture of topsoil: coir dust = 1:1 produced the
highest number of mean effective leaves (4.6 leaves / plant), whereas pure coir dust medium
produced the lowest number (2.05 leaves/plant). This indicates that pure coir dust did not
promote leaf production and expansion in bothvarieties studied.
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Among the light treatments, plants grown under 60% light produced the highest number of
effective leaves (3.9), whereas37% light produced the lowestmean of 2.6 leaves. Plants
propagated with and without rooting hormone produced 3.54 and 3.12 mean effective leaves
respectively.
Table – 3 Change in Effective Leaf Number (ELN) of Begonia propagules with different potting
media, light and application of rooting hormones.
Treatments
Mean ELN
Medium
Pure Sand
3.59 *
Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
4.58 *
Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
3.17 *
Sand: Coir dust = 1: 1
3.27 *
Pure Coir dust
2.05 *
Light Level
37% light
2.65 *
60% light
3.97 *
79% light
3.23 *
100% light
3.49 *
Hormone Application
Applied
3.12
Not Applied
3.54
*Mean values are significantly different within a major treatment
Fresh Weight of the plant (FW)
Shading and application of rooting hormone did not influence fresh matter production of
Begonia varieties. In contrast, different potting mixtures had a significant impact on this
parameter.Among the parameter used top soil: coir dust = 1:1 produced the highest mean
fresh weight of 4.70 g whereas the lowest was 1.4 g produced from pure coir dust (p=0.05).
The above result showed that, although coir dust can retain more water and favor better
fresh matter production as a mixed ingredient (Table - 4),sole coir dust is not a suitable
propagation medium as it leads poor aeration due to higher water retention (hold 9-10 timers
of water W/W).
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Table 4 – Impact of potting media, light required and rooting hormones on fresh weights (FW)
and Dry weight (DW) of Begonia propagules.
Treatments
Mean FW
Mean DW
Medium
Pure Sand
2.96 *
0.38 *
Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
4.72 *
0.30 *
Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
2.61 *
0.24 *
Sand: Coir dust = 1: 1
3.58 *
0.32 *
Pure Coir dust
1.44 *
0.09 *
Light Level
37% light
2.84
0.21 *
60% light
3.38
0.25*
79% light
3.13
0.30 *
100% light
2.89
0.30 *
Hormone Application
Applied
2.98
0.24 *
Not Applied
3.14
0.29*
*Mean values are significantly different within a major treatment
Dry Weights of the plant (DW)
Shade levels and hormonal application had no impacts on dry weight of begonias (P=0.05).
The propagation medium also did not show any significant impacts on dry weight unlike in
fresh weights (Table 4). Therefore that the difference in fresh weight is due to the variation in
moisture content of the plantspropagated using different media. However pure sand
produced the highest mean dry weight of 0.38 g and highest mean dry weight (0.09 g) was
obtained from the pure coir dust medium. Among the light treatments 37% light produced
0.219 dry matter and 79% and 10 light levels produced 0. 39 dry matter.
Root Volume (RV)
Shading and application of rooting hormone had no impact on root volume of Begonia
varieties. This indicates that early root production and development was not affected by
these treatments.In contrast, use of different potting mixtures had a significant impact on
rooting (p=0.05). the medium composed of a mixture of top soil : coir dust = 1:1 produced
the highest mean root volume of 0.29 cm3 whereas the lowest was 0.13 cm3 was produced
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from pure coir dust. The greatest root growth in top soil : coir dust medium is due to
incorporation of coir dust to top soil which helps to improve physical, chemical, and biological
properties of top soil. This facilitates plant roots to grow vigorously.
Table 5 – Impact of different potting media, light required and rooting hormones on
root volume (RV) of Begonias.
Treatments
Mean RV
Medium
Pure Sand
0.19 *
Top Soil: Coir dust = 1: 1
0.29 *
Sand: Coir dust: Top Soil = 1: 1: 1
0.22 *
Sand: Coir dust = 1: 1
0.27 *
Pure Coir dust
0.13 *
Light Level
37% light
0.19
60% light
0.22
79% light
0.24
100% light
0.22
Hormone
Application
Applied
0.22
Not Applied
0.22
*Mean values are significantly different within a major treatment
Conclusion
This study highlights that, the application of Napthylacetic acid as a rooting had no impact on
propagation of Begonia varieties studied. Further a rooting medium composed of top soil:
coir dust = 1:1 and 60 % light levels were the most suitable condition for the successful
propagation of Begonias through leaf cuttings.
References
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development in Begonia, Department of Horticulture, Agricultural university of
Norway. CAB Horticultural abstractsl428, vol. 68 no-4: 183
2. Graf A.B,(1980),Exotica, Pictorial cyclopedia of exotic plants from tropical and sub-
tropical regions, Roehrs company lnc.,USA.
3. Lynn P.and Griffith J.R.(1997), Tropical foliage plants, Ball publishing, Baatavia,
illiinois.USA;296-297
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4. Thompson EJ. and Thompson ML. (1981), Begonias The complete reference guide,
New York Times Book Company Inc; 5-51
5. Yahya A and lsmail M.R.(1996).Growth and flowering of some annual ornamentals
on coconut dust, Proceedings of the international symposium on growing media and
plant nutrition in horticulture, CAB Horticultural abstracts. Vol 68 no-4: 433.