OPTIMIZATION OF QUALITY IN EXPORTED Polyscias balfouriana “MARGINATA” BY USING DIFFERENT SHADE LEVELS

Abstract

Foliage plant industry in Sri Lanka often has to face difficulties due to problems associated with the qualities of the final product of plant especially, pale green colour leaves and poor quality shoots, which are not accept by the buyers in export market. An investigation was carried out to develop the green colour and other qualities of Polyscias balfouriana “Marginata” (PBM) using different shade levels within 10 weeks. Canes, 10 cm long were used as planting materials and planted in coir beds under, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90 and 95% shade levels. Other qualities evaluated for PBM were shoot length, leaf area, number of leaves per shoot. It was evident that the preferable forest green colour was achieved significantly (p = 0.001) at the highest shade levels of 85 and 90%. The leaf area of 14 cm2 and, sprout of 7 cm to 7.5 cm length also achieved at highest shade levels of 85% and 90%. Percentage of canes with 3 or more than 3 leaves per shoot was significantly higher than that of canes with less than 3 leaves at shade levels higher than the control. The higher percentage of acceptable canes with 3 or more than 3 leaves was found in shade level of 80%, 85% and 90 %. With these findings it can be concluded that the use of high shade levels such as 85% and 90% at foliage nurseries are favorable to obtain quality PBM plant for export market.