No abstract

Due to the lack of information on mineral nutrition of ornamental plants, especially tropical species, we aimed to evaluate the effects of nitrogen fertilization on development, flowering, and mineral nutrition of potted Costus productus. Plants were cultivated along 1 year under protection in Ubatuba, São Paulo State, Brazil, and submitted to five treatments that corresponded to increasing nitrogen doses (0.0, 1.2, 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8 g N plant ¡1). Evaluated plant variables were potted development, height, dry matter of aerial part, number of inflorescences, and nutritional status. Analysis of variance and linear and polynomial regressions were performed for definition of the best adjustments according to the combination of significance and greater determination coefficient. The nitrogen fertilization positively influenced development, flowering, and mineral nutrition of potted C. productus plants, and the dose of 4.8 g N plant ¡1 promoted best results KEYWORDS nutrition; tropical flower; ornamental plant; Costaceae; Zingiberales CONTACT Renata Bachin Mazzini-Guedes

The Heliconia species with pendent inflorescences and colorful bracts are a good option as a cut flower for floriculture market, but only a few species of this type of Heliconia eg. H. rostrata, H. rauliniana and H. chartacea are commercially produced in Brazil. This study was carried out to characterize 36 Heliconia accessions, with pendent inflorescences, to be used as cut flower, intending to increase knowledge and use of these exceptional plants among tropical flower enthusiasts and consumers. The evaluations were performed on plants of the Germplasm Collection of the Instituto Agronômico (IAC) growing in shade, partial shade or full sun conditions. Qualitative and quantitative characteristics, related to clump growth and flower stem aspects were analyzed. A point scoring system was used to determine the species most suitable for cut flower utilization. All evaluated genotypes reached enough points to be considered suitable for use as cut flowers, even those with large inflorescences and bracts arranged in different planes, facts that affect and limit handling, packaging and transportation. H. mariae, H. fernandezii, H. platystachys, H. rauliniana, H. rostrata, H. standley, H. necrobracteata and H. laxa were considered outstanding. This characterization and scoring system were important to facilitate the selection of heliconia genotypes for use as cut flowers.

No abstract