Effects of chitosan with or without nitrogen treatments on seedling growthin Eustoma grandiflorum (Raf.) Shinn. cv. Kairyou Wakamurasaki

Effects of applying chitosan [poly-(1 --> 4)- beta -D-glucosamine] and wate r soluble inorganic fertilizer to soils on seedling growth of Eustoma grand iflorum (Rai.) Shinn. cv. Kairyou Wakamurasaki were investigated. The treat ment of 1.0% chitosan soil mixture (w/w), combined with a fertilizer contai ning the same amount of nitrogen as in 1.0% chitosan, significantly promote d plant growth, compared to the treatments of 1.0% chitosan soil mixture an d of fertilizer with equal or double amounts of inorganic nitrogen containe d in the 1.0% chitosan, when measured 7 weeks after sowing. Nitrogen and ph osphorus concentrations in the shoot and root in the fertilizer or chitosan combined treatment were higher than those in the untreated control. Chitosan supplementation into in vitro culture of seedlings also promoted p lant growth regardless of chitosan concentration, compared with chitosan-fr ee, half or full strength of Murashige-Skoog medium.