I.

INTRODUCTION
Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus L.) belongs to family Caryophyllaceae, native to the
Mediterranean region (Salehi., 2006). The genus name ‘Dianthus’ is derived from the Greek
words ‘dios’ referring to ‘Zeus’, ‘Devine’ or ‘God’ and ‘anthos’ meaning ‘flower’ and hence
known as ‘Divine Flower, Flower of God and Flower of Love. The common name ‘carnation’
most likely has come from the Greek word ‘coronation’ since it is used in decorating the crown
of Greek athletes. It is a long day plant (Blake, 1955).

Carnation is an elegant flowering plant with great importance as a cut flower due to its beautiful
display, wide array of colors and forms. Carnation, apart from producing cut flowers can also
become valuable in gardening for bedding, edging, borders, pots, and rock gardens. Carnations
are preferred than roses and chrysanthemums by some countries for export due to its beauty and
form. In world market round the year carnation the demand for cut flowers of carnation exist but
usually its demand is high on special occasions such as Mother’s day, Christmas, Easter and
Valentine’s Day and Eid festivals etc. The flowers are solitary, terminally formed, the petals are
broad with frilled margins and the calyx is cylindrical with bracts at the base. Carnations are
generally diploids (2n=30), though tetraploid forms (4n= 60) have also been identified. The
majority of cultivable carnations are diploid, (Angadi., (2015).

In some countries Carnations are commercially utilized for extraction of its oil. The volatile oil
of carnation contains 40% benzyl benzoate, 30% eugenol, 7% phenylethyl alcohol, 5% benzyl
salicylate and 1% methyl salicylate. Approximately 100g of oil is obtained from 500 kg of
flowers. The leaves can be simmered in water and this water can be used as soap for cleaning
skin, clothes. Similarly flowers of carnation are considered to be cardio tonic, diaphoretic and
alexiteric, hence, carnation is also used as medicinal plant (Shiragur et al., 2004).

Production of Carnation is carried out in three diverse ways by seeds, cuttings and meristem
culture. But usually it is grown through seeds. Growing carnations will be much easier if the
seeds in an area get a minimum of 4-5 hours of sun each day. Well-draining soil, with good
porosity for aeration, will help to grow flourishing carnation garden plants (Jawaharlal et al.,
2009).

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Plants, like all other living things, need food for their growth and development. Plants require 16
essential elements. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen are derived from the atmosphere and soil
water. The remaining 13 essential elements (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium,
magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, copper, boron, molybdenum, and chlorine) are
supplied either from soil minerals and soil organic matter or by organic or inorganic fertilizers.
For plants to utilize these nutrients competently, light, heat, and water must be adequately
supplied. Cultural practices and control of diseases and insects also play important roles in crop
production. Each type of plant is unique and has an optimum nutrient range as well as a
minimum requirement level. Below this minimum level, plants start to show nutrient deficiency
symptoms. Excessive nutrient uptake can also cause poor growth because of toxicity. Therefore,
the proper amount of application and the placement of nutrients is important (Uchida., 2000).

Two types of nutrients are required for plant growth. The nutrients which are required by the
plants in relatively high quantity are called macro-nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus,
potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur. The nutrients which are needed by the plants in
comparatively small amounts are micronutrients e.g., iron, manganese, boron, molybdenum,
copper, zinc, chlorine and cobalt. Micronutrients are equally essential but usually required in low
amounts and many are toxic at high concentrations in plant cells. Therefore, it is not surprising
that plants have evolved a set of mechanisms to finely adjust micronutrient acquisition to the
physiological and structural requirements of plant cells. If the external availability of a
micronutrient is insufficient to cover the plant’s demand, physiological, and/or morphological
responses are upregulated to improve micronutrient acquisition and increase internal utilization
to some extent (Giehl., et al2009).

Boron is an essential element for plant growth. Boron requirements vary among plant species
and the concentration range between toxicity and deficiency is less for Boron than for any other
nutrient. Boron availability to plants decreases with increasing soil pH and/or under drought
conditions (Marschner, 1995). However, the role of Boron in plant is still least well understood
of all mineral nutrients. It is suggested that the primary effect of Boron deficiency appears to be
disruption of the normal functioning of the apical meristems with change in membrane structure,
cell wall synthesis, metabolisms of auxin, carbohydrate, ascorbate, RNA and lignification,
phenol accumulation, and sucrose transport being secondary effects (Raj., et al2016).

2
A high incidence of calyx splitting is generally the first symbol of boron deficiency. The leaves
split at the nodes and the flower buds abort. Where buds do not abort there will be few petals
which dry off and the style will be pronounced. Red patches, which develop along the central
veins on the lower leaves, later spread over the leaf and become necrotic. The leaves tend to be
spoon shaped with serrated tips. The uppermost lateral shoots may have a “witch’s broom”
appearance. Both total bloom production and the yield of marketable blooms can be increased by
boron application. Where boron supply is marginal, liming can markedly increase calyx splitting
in the absence of a boron supply in the liquid feed or fertilizer (Karthikeyan., et al(2009).

Keeping in view the economic value of carnation, and potential effect of Boron to
improve growth and flowering of carnation and in controlling the problems of calyx splitting and
poor leaf & shoot development, an experiment is designed to study the effect of boron on
carnation with the following objectives:

 To find the optimum concentration of boron for better flower production of carnation
 To find out appropriate time for foliar application of boron on carnation.
 To study the interaction of boron concentrations and its time of application on carnation.

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 II. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

The following literature review provides orientation about the importance of the proposed
research and highlights the background of the problem and possible information on the research
from available relevant literature. The previous research work done on carnation (dianthus
caryophyllus) and boron is summarized as under:
S. Karthikeyan, et al.,(2009) conducted an experiment on the effect of boron on calyx
splitting in the carnation version. Three different doses of borax were applied to the soil and in
the form of spray at fortnightly intervals from one month after bud initiation and thereafter until
harvesting. The results show that 0.1% of foliar application showed significant improvement in
control of calyx partitioning in plant growth, flower characteristics, and carnations. Plant height,
number of leaves plants-1, bud length, bud edge, flower diameter, flowering period and number of
flowering plants-1, flower yield per m2, strength, length and width of flower crop. During the
stalk maximum observed. However, the first bud initiation and bud opening days were found to
be minimal. Improvement of flower quality was recorded with the lowest calyx split percentage
with the application of 0.1% borax leaf until bud initiation and one month after planting at
weekly intervals. Therefore, the application of 0.1% borax a month after planting until bud
initiation and the weekly interval until harvesting thereafter proved to be beneficial to produce
high yield of normal quality flowers.

P. Adamas et al.,(1980) studied the effects of B supply at 0 and 0.5 ppm and N at 100,
140, 180, 220 and 260 ppm as NH4N03 factorial with four rates in liquid feed. Done in
combination. Living, cvs with William Sim and Pink Sim were studied in 10 x 20 and 20 x 20
beds with 70% clay, 20% peat and 10% grit. Total Bloom production was recorded 4 · 0% when
B was provided and reduced to 3.0% where pH was higher than 6.3. The matching figures for
salable blooms were 5.8% and 3.8%; The greatest increase (11.4%) occurred with the addition of
B at pH> 6.8. Bloom's production generally increases with N levels but not significantly.
Limiting the pH to 7.4 increased calf division where B was absent, but had little effect when B
was provided. The division of Calyx was considerably reduced when B was supplied to plants
receiving 100 ppm N, but only at 250 ppm N. Increasing the level of N reduces the pH of the soil
and increases the availability of B, thus reducing calcification. The division was independently

4
related to both N and B plants. The vacancy was present between varieties and reactions. The
low incidence of B content in the leaves insures the symptoms of B deficiency.

Lakhita Rajet al.,(2016) conducted an experiment to determine the effect of pre-crop

sprays of micronutrients such as boron, zinc and its combination on post-harvest quality and the
life of the carnation vase. The post-harvest quality of flower stalk length (65.61 cm) was
maximum in plants treated with zinc (0.3%), and calyx splitting (3.12%) minimum in plants
treated with boron (0.1%). Was. Flower diameter (6.64 cm) was highest with boron (0.1%) +
zinc (0.3%) treatment. The maximum fresh weight of the flower was observed in a combination
of boron (0.1%) + zinc (0.3%) from day one to the sixteenth. Foliar spray of boron (0.1%)
recorded the maximum vase life (11.05 days). So the good quality of the flowers can be
improved with zinc foil spray, borax splitting can control calyx splitting and the flower vase can
be maintained with boron sprays. It is confirmed that foliar application of micronutrients is of
great help for improving post-harvest quality and vase life.

Maguluri S.D. (2016) studied the response of different types of carnations (Dianthus
caryophyllus L.) to pinching and boron under natural ventilated polyhouses. Experimental results
showed that all recorded parameters were strongly influenced by variability, pinch, and boron.
Variety Baltico recorded significantly increased plant height, number of seedlings, and internodal
length, while flowering parameters such as the first flowering bud initiation days and 50%
flowering days were significantly lower in Penelope. Variety Penelope also noted maximum
internodes per stem, flowering period and plant per flower. Flower bud, diameter of flowers,
stalk length, stalk length, in situ longevity, maximum diameter of flower vase; Minimum
dissecting flowers per plot were recorded in Domingo. Bud length was found to be maximum in
Baltico. The first flower bud initiation days and 50% flowering days were significantly less in a
pinch. Diameter of bud and flower; The bud length, stalk length, flower stalk length, in situ
longevity and vase life were significantly higher in a pinch, while double pinching recorded
minimal calyx splitting, maximum seedling, and flowers per plant. Spray of 0.1 percent boron
records better growth, flowering and yield parameters comparatively.

Halderet al.,(2007) field study was conducted. The objective was to evaluate the response
of B and Zn and to find the optimal dose of the same for the production of gladiolus. It is
observed in the tables that both B and Zn have a great influence on the yield and quality of

5
gladiolus, either singly or in combination. However, the subsequent succession of high rates of B
and Zn increased the selective growth and flowering characters to some extent and prominently
ruled out the results beyond further increase of dose. The sixteen treatment combinations
included in the study noted that B and Zn, B 2.0 Zn at a rate of 4.5 kg h-1. The N375 P150 K250
with a blank dose of S20 kg and CD 5 t h-1 performed best in flower production and pushed the
flower vase to life. The studied parameters such as plant height (79.83 and 87.61 cm), length of
spike (71.2 and 67.33 cm), length of rachis (48.86 and 45.08 cm) and number of leaves (10.77
and 9.87 / plant) studied boron and Responded significantly to the joint application. Zinc at a rate
of B2.0 Zn4.54 compared to other treatment combinations. Floral characters such as floral
number (12.85 and 12.45 / spike), floret size (9.76x8.93 and 10.28x9.77 cm) and weight of stick
(36.73 and 45.12 g) are also strongly affected by the treatment (B2.0,Zn4.5 kg h-1) which
differed markedly over the remaining combinations of treatments. A similar trend was observed
in single application of B and Zn with growth rates.

Khalaj MAet al., (2007) studied the effect of nitrogen, potassium, and boron on calyx
partitioning and improvement in quality and quantity characteristic carnation (variant yellow),
nitrogen treatment was at 3 levels: 0,100,200 mg / kg. From ammonium nitrate, as potassium
levels: 0,150,300 mg / kg from potassium sulfate and boron 0, 7.5, 15 mg / kg from boric acid.
First-year results showed that N3K2B2 (200 mg / kg N. and 150 mg / kg K.) was the best
treatment. In this treatment, calyx sharing was reduced by about 85% compared to traditional
composting. In this treatment the number of flowers increased against the control by about 33%.
The data showed that with 2 cm is the largest bud diameter obtained from N2K3B1 with no
significant difference with the control. The data showed that the largest flower diameter with
7.39 cm was N3K3B2 which is indistinguishable with the control (6.98). The best treatment for
vase life was N3K2B2 with 13.6 days which increased it by about 27% against control. Results
for the second year showed that N3K2B2 markedly decreased the splitting. In this treatment the
calyx splitting was reduced by about 60% compared to the control. In this treatment the flower
number increased by about 32% against the control). The best treatment for vase life was
N2K2B3 with 7.6 days which increased it by about 21% against control. The results showed that
the highest flower stem obtained from N3K2B2 with 62.83 cm does not have a significant
difference with the control (58 cm).

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 III. MATERIALS AND METHODS

The research study on “The effect of various concentrations of boron (B) and its application time
on the flower production of carnation” will be carried out at the ornamental nursery, Department
of Horticulture, The University of Agriculture Peshawar during winter 2019-20.

The experiment will be laid out in Randomize Complete Block Design (RCBD) with split-plot
arrangement. There will be 15 treatments replicated three times. Seedling will be planted be
transplanted in 1st week of January, 2019 at a distance 20 cm while row to row distance will be
kept 30 cm. The field will be prepared well before transplantation of seedlings. All the cultural
practices will be carried out uniformly.

Factors:

Factor A: Foliar application time (Main Plot)

T1= 30 days after transplantation

T2= 50 days after transplantation

T3 = flower bud initiation stage

Factor B: Boron concentration (Sub plot)

C1 = Control (Distilled water)

C2 = 300 mg L-1

C3 = 600 mg L-1

C4 = 900 mg L-1

C5 = 1200 mg L-1

Parameters: (Give the parameters in proper sequence such as vegetative followed by

reproductive attributes)

Number of leaves plant-1

Data pertaining to number of leaves will be recorded by counting the number of leaves in five
plants from each treatment in each replication and their average will be calculated.

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Days to flowering:

Data on days to flowering will be recorded on five plants from the date of transplantation till
appearance of flowers for all treatments in each replication.

Number of branches plant-1

Number of branches will be counted in five plants for all treatments in every replication and the
average will be determined.

Leaf area (cm2)

For each treatment in each replication three plants will be will be selected randomly and
their leaves will be measured with the help of leaf area meter and their average will be
calculated.

Plant height (cm)

Plant height will be measured from the soil surface to the top of the plant, by selecting 3
plants randomly for each treatment in each replication, with the help of measuring tape and their
average will be determined.

Split calyces (%)

Number of split calyces will be determined in five plants for each treatment in each
replication, its average will be sorted out and split calyces in percent will be worked out.

Number of petals flower-1

Number of petals will be calculated in three randomly selected flowers from each
treatment in each replication and their average will be measured.

Flower dimeter (cm)

Flower diameter of three randomly taken flowers will be measured for each treatment in
each replication by using Vernier caliper and their average will be calculated.

Fresh flower weight (g)

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 Fresh flowers weight will be recorded by measuring the weight of three randomly taken
fresh flowers in each replication for each treatment by using digital balance and their average
will be taken.

Dry Flower weight (g)

Statistical procedure

The data recorded on different parameters will be subjected to Analysis of variance (ANOVA)
technique to find out the difference betweent the treatments and their interactions. In cases where
differences will find significant, the means will be compared for differences using Least
Significant Difference (LSD) test. The data will be subjected to ANOVA using statistics 8.1
software and then for separation of means LSD test will be applied (Steel and Tori, 1991).

ANOVA TABLE

The data recorded will be subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) for RCBD with split plot
arrangement.

SOV DF

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Replications 2

Time of application (T) 2

Error 1 4

Boron concentration (B) 4

Time of application × boron concentrations (T × B) 8

Error 2 24

Total 44

REFERENCES

Adams, P., C. J. Graves and G.W. Winsor. 1980. Some effects of micronutrients and liming on
the production and quality of glasshouse carnations grown in a peat-sand substrate. J.of
Hort. Sci., 55(2): 89-96.

Angadi, S. 2015. Performance of carnation (dianthus caryophyllus L.) varieties under naturally
ventilated polyhouse condition (Doctoral dissertation, University of Agric. Sci. dharwad).

Blake, J. 1955. Photoperiodism in the perpetual flowering carnation. Rep. 14th Int. Hort. Congr.,
1: 331-336.

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Giehl, R. F., A. R.Me and N. Von Wirén. 2009. Moving up, down, and everywhere: signaling of
micronutrients in plants. Current opinion in plant biology, 12(3): 320-327.

Halder, N. K., Rafiuddin, M. D., Siddiky, M. A., Gomes, R., & Begum, K. A. (2007).
Performance of Gladiolus as influenced by boron and zinc. Pak. J. Biol. Sci, 10, 581-585.

Karthikeyan, S., Jawaharlal, M., & Ganga, M. (2009). Effect of boron on calyx splitting in
carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus Linn.). Journal of Ornamental Horticulture, 12(4), 269-
273.

Khalaj, M. A., Hassanzadeh, S., Yussefbeigi, A., &Edrisi, B. (2007). Study on the effect of
Nitrogen, potassium and Boron on Calyx splitting decreasing and quality and quantity
characteristic improving of carnation (cv. yellow).

Jawaharlal, M., M. Ganga, K. Padmadevi., V. Jegadeeswari and S. Karthikeyan. 2009. A

technical guide on carnation. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, pp.1-56.

Maguluri, S. D. (2016). Response of different varieties of carnation (dianthus caryophyllus L.) to

pinching and boron (Doctoral dissertation, Floriculture and Landscape Architecture
Dept., ACHF, Nau, navsari).

Raj, L., Siddappa, S., Varalakshmi, S., Vikas, H. M., &Girjakumari, C. H. (2016). Effect of pre
harvest application of boron and zinc on post harvest quality and vaselife of
carnation. Journal of Applied and Natural Science, 8(1), 232-235.

Salehi, H. (2006). Can a general shoot proliferation and rooting medium be used for a number of
carnation cultivars? African Journal of Biotechnology, 5(1), 25-30.

Shiragur, M., Shirol, A. M., Gorabal, K., Reddy, B. S. and Kulkarni, B. S., 2004, Evaluation of
standard carnation cultivars for their flowering, flower quality and yield parameters under
protected cultivation. J. Orn. Hort., 7 (3-4): 206-211.

Uchida, R. (2000). Essential nutrients for plant growth: nutrient functions and deficiency
symptoms. Plant nutrient management in Hawaii’s soils, 31-55.

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