How may trichoderma application affect vegetative and qualitative traits in tulip darwin hybride cultivar

Abstract

To study the effect of Trichoderma harzianum Bi on qualitative and quantitative traits of tulip including stem length and diameter, bud diameter, petal length, bulb perimeter and bulblet number, an experiment based on completely randomized design with 8 replications were completed in situ. Main media mixture was 40% of coco peat+ 40 of field soil+ 20% of perlite. Treatments included enriched coco peat with trichoderma in different concentrations (0, 20, 50 and 100%) of total coco peat. Results showed that 100 and 50% of enriched coco peat significantly increased stem length and diameter. These treatments also had an effect on bud diameter significantly. Petal length was also affected by 100% of enriched coco peat treatment in comparison to control. All treatments (20, 50 and 100%) had a significant effect on bulblet appearance in both mature and immature bulbs. Mature bulb perimeter was significantly affected by all treatments although immature bulb perimeter was only affected by 50 and 100% treatments. Flower bud formation in immature bulbs which was treated with 50 and 100% of enriched coco peat increased significantly in comparison to control. Totally it seems that trichoderma increases tulip cut flower quality traits and induces maturity in immature bulbs.