Effect of shade, organic matter and planting time on morphological and physiological characteristics of lisianthus (Eustoma grandiflorum) (Raf.) Shinn

In order to investigate the effect of shade، organic materials and planting time on characters of Lisianthus، a completely randomized design experiment was conducted in greenhouse of Isfahan University of Technology including 3 treatments، and each one consisted of 3 replications in 2012. Treatments consisted of two levels of 50% and 70% shade as the main factor، two planting times (April 28th and May 2nd) as sub-factor and three levels of organic material (0، 5 and10 kilograms of manure per square meter) as sub-factor in subsidiary. The results showed that 50% shade increased height، diameter of flower، the amount of chlorophyll and fresh and dry weight of the plant. The longest flowering period was observed in treatment of 50% shade. Plants in this treatment produced flower faster than those in 70% shade. The first planting time (April) fell behind in blooming but beared flowers for a longer time. Also، leaves showed less chlorophyll compared to those planted in May. Planting time had no significant effect on other characteristics. Organic material showed a significant effect only on wet and dry weight of plants. Interacting effect of shade and organic material showed a significant effect on Lisianthus’s fresh and dry weight and amount of relative chlorophyll. But the intraction between planting time، shade and organic matter effected dry weight and fresh weight respectively.