STUDY ON MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF FIVE ANTHURIUM VARIETIES

The study was conducted in the Department of Horticulture at Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during April 2013 to February 2014, to observe the morpho-physiological performance of anthurium varieties for growth and flowering. Five anthurium varieties viz. V₁ (Pink anthurium), V₂ (White pink anthurium), V₃ (White anthurium), V₄ (Light anthurium) and V₅ (Green red anthurium) were performed in split-plot design with four replications. The data were recorded for plant height, leaves per plant, petiole length and breadth at different days after transplanting. In post harvest data were taken note on number of suckers, flower stem length and breadth, spathe length and width, spadix length and width, the candle position of spathe and spadix, flowers per plant and vase life. Analysis of variance revealed the significant morpho-physiological differences among all the traits of anthurium.  The highest plant height (34.4 cm) and flower stalk length (29.1 cm) were found from V₁, whereas the lowest was from V₅. Nevertheless, higher leaf area and SPAD value were observed in Pink anthurium (V₁) variety, whereas Green red Anthurium (V₅) was lower in both traits. Candle position of spathe and spadix was found the best position in White anthurium (V₃) variety. Maximum number of flowers (6.4) and vase life (26.7) was shown from white Anthurium (V₃). On the other hand, minimal number of flower and vase life was ground in Green red Anthurium (V₅).