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The influence of irrigation on growth and development of potted Catharanthus roseus

The aim of this study was to analyze the morphological and anatomical responses of potted Madagascar periwinkle to deficit irrigation and to evaluate the possibility of producing commercial quality plants with less water use. Seedlings of Madagascar periwinkle (Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don ‘SunStorm Red’) were subjected to three irrigation treatments: container capacity (control), 80% of the control (mild deficit irrigation) and 60% of the control (moderate deficit irrigation). Deficit irrigation (DI) treatments caused a decrease in stem length and diameter, plant width, number of lateral branches with visible flower buds and the size of the leaf blade, but did not affect leaf thickness and the number of nodes formed before flowering. Leaf chlorophyll content index (CCI) increased with increasing water deficit and, in moderate DI treatment, the leaves were noticeably darker green than in the control plants. DI treatments also led to a decrease in the size of the stomata, on both sides of the leaf, and to an increase in the stomatal density on the abaxial side of the leaf. Water deficit did not considerably affect the start of flowering, but it led to a decrease in flower diameter and, in the moderate DI treatment, lowered the number of flower buds per plant. Mild DI did not significantly impair ornamental quality of the plants and therefore could be applied in production of Madagascar periwinkle to reduce water consumption.

Madagascar periwinkle, deficit irrigation, ornamental quality, plant production

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