This experiment was conducted to find out the effect of three useful microorganisms, Photosynthetic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus plantarum, on the plant growth and pot plant quality of Cyclamen persicum Mill. 'Tianis' by drenching 7 ...
This experiment was conducted to find out the effect of three useful microorganisms, Photosynthetic bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus plantarum, on the plant growth and pot plant quality of Cyclamen persicum Mill. 'Tianis' by drenching 7 times at two week intervals of these microorganisms. The results were as follows.
1. Changes in chemical characteristics of pot media
K, Ca, Mg, Na, P2O5, and NO3-N contents in pot media of Cyclamen persicum Mill. 'Tianis' were reduced by three microorganisms. This is considered to be the plant's vigorous growth affecting more a mineral uptake from the media at microorganism treatments. Besides, water retention ability in media was also improved.
2. Promotion of growth of cyclamen pot plants
Drenching of L. plantarum as a effective microorganism promoted the growth of the above-ground part of cyclamen pot plants by increase in T/R ratio and plant biomass. Meanwhile, B. subtilis treatment was effective to the chlorophyll contents in leaves. The under-ground part of cyclamen pot plants, composed of roots and bulbs, was growing well at both P. bacteria and L. plantarum treatments. Also, the mineral contents of leaves, CaO, MgO and B, were highest at B. subtilis treatment which induced effective uptake of exchangeable cations in media to the plants. This is considered due to the plant's active uptake of various photosynthate and bioactive materials synthesized by a fungus body.
3. Improvement of pot quality of cyclamen pot plants
Both of P. bacteria and L. plantarum were effective to the pot plant balance defined by the ratio of plant height to its width and leaf number to its area. The ornamental value of cyclamen pot plants as best at both P. bacteria and B. subtilis treatments with increase of flowers per plant and the volume of flowers to the whole plant. The vivid color of the flowers was found in all microorganism treatments compared to non-treated control, especially highest at P. bacteria treatment.
Unlike the vegetables recommended by microorganisms of 2 to 3 mL·L-1, this study showed that the range of 10 to 20 mL·L-1 in microorganisms was optimal for those drenching in media of pot flower plants, Cyclamen persicum Mill. 'Tianis'. In order to apply the above-mentioned microorganisms to flower production, therefore, further more researches of effective microorganisms are needed on diverse ornamental pot plants.