INFLUENCE OF DIFFERENTIAL NITROGEN SUPPLY FROM MOTHER PLANTS ON CAPABILITY FOR STORAGE AND ROOTING OF CHRYSANTHEMUM CUTTINGS (DENDRANTHEMA-GRANDIFLORUM-HYBRIDS)

Chrysanthemum mother plants cv. 'Puma white' were cultivated in a clos ed plant plane hydroponic-system. The effect of differential nitrogen supply (50, 100, and 200 mg/l N) on total nitrogen content (N-t) in dr y matter, storability, and adventitious root formation of cuttings inv estigated. N-t-content in cutting dry matter gave good reflections of graded nitrogen supply with nutrient solution. Fresh matter of cutting s increased with rising nitrogen supply, although the number of cuttin gs per mother plant did not differ between 100 and 200 mg/l N. Lowest nitrogen supply (50 mg/l) resulted in worst and highest nitrogen suppl y (200 mg/l) in best rooting. The effect of storage duration (0, 2, 3, 4 weeks) at temperatures near 0 degrees C on rooting was small when m other plants were provided with middle and high nitrogen supply. 50 mg /l N led to a decrease of 35 % in number oi roots and 25 % in root len gth after three weeks of storing the cuttings.