Role of Plant Growth Retardants on Chrysanthemum

Flowers are nature's gift to mankind and symbolize purity, peace, love and beauty. It is said that, human born with flowers, lives with flowers and finally dies with flowers. Chrysanthemum belongs to Asteraceae family and ranks second among all flowers. With the advancement of technology, grower's main objective is perfection in the form of plants in the quality of flowers and increase in the flower production. Now a days various chemicals are being tried for controlling growth and flowering of chrysanthemum with a view to have compact plants and also to stretch out or retard the rate of plant growth. As chrysanthemum is considered a long day for vegetative and short day for flowering, photoperiodic manipulation to advance or delay flowering in commercial chrysanthemum is necessary. Plant growth substances are found to counter the photoperiodic requirements of many flowering plants. Growth retardants treatments are increasingly studied with greater number of flowers and also to hasten or delay flowering according to the needs of growers. With a view to maximize flower production as per market demands. Regulation of flowering through growth retardants has immense practical value.