The Response of Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton. to Different Photoperiod and Shade Treatments Under Greenhouse Conditions

This research was carried out to determine the effects of light on flowering and plant development of Cyclamen hederifolium Aiton., spreads out naturally in West Anatolia. In this study, cyclamen bulbs with 10–12 cm cicumference, were used as a plant material. Bulbs were planted in peatmoss, cocopeat and perlite (3:1:1) mixture as a substrate in August. Different photoperiod (Short Day: 8 h, Long Day:14 h,16 h, 20 h) and shade (full sun light, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%) treatments were applied on plants, grown under greenhouse conditions. During the experiment, time of leaf emergence and days to flowering, leaf and flower number, petiole and peduncle length, leaf area, plant height, leaf stoma conductance, chlorophyll content, fresh and dry biomass arameters were investigated, climatic data were also recorded in the greenhouse. At the end of the study, when some developing parameters were considered for light duration and intensity; we concluded that, uniform plant development was obtained by under 16 h photoperiod and 40% shade, were also more compact as an ornamental plant. However, photoperiod treatments had no significant effect on petiole and peduncle length, plant height with leaf fresh and dry biomass; also shade treatments had any significant effect on time of leaf emergence.