Determining the phyllochron and final leaf pair number in on-farm cut dahlia cultivars

Abstract Dahlia is an important ornamental crop and widely used as a garden plant in beds and mixed borders as well as a cut flower in bouquets and flower arrangements. Understanding the factors that support sustainable flower production is essential for dahlia growers to increase their profits. Two key variables that define leaf development during the vegetative phase of a crop are the rate of appearance of leaves on the main stem and the final number of leaves. The objective in this study was to determine the phyllochron and the final leaf pair number (FLPN) in cut dahlias cultivars grown in different locations. Three on farm experiments varying from two to eight cut dahlia cultivars were conducted during two years (2021/2022) in six locations in Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. The number of unfolded leaf pairs (NLP - an unfolded leaf was assumed when the foliolates edges were not touching anymore) on each plant was counted once or twice a week, depending on the farm, until the last leaf pair was unfolded. The NLP was linearly regressed against TT (thermal time °C day-1) and the phyllochron (oC day leaf pair-1) was calculated as the slope of the linear regression. The results indicated that the phyllochron of dahlia cultivars varied between 45.7 to 95.6 °C pair of leaves-1 and 8 to 14 of final number of pair of leaves in the first experiment, 27.2 to 97.4 °C pair of leaves-1 and 6 to 15 of final leaf pair number in the second experiment and 46.8 at 106.4 °C leaf pair-1 and 6 to 13 the final leaf pair number in the third. Thus, there was no significant difference between the sites in the phyllochron and NFP variables.