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. 2024 Oct 8;13(19):2810.
doi: 10.3390/plants13192810.

Plant Density and Location: Optimization of Growth and Quality of Cut Sunflower in Tropical and Subtropical Environments

Tuane Carlesso Tomasi  1 , Lucas Coutinho Reis  1 , Tiago Ledesma Taira  1 , Jackeline Schultz Soares  1 , Regina Tomiozzo  2 , Lilian Osmari Uhlmann  2 , Nereu Augusto Streck  2 , José Carlos Sorgato  1
Affiliations

Plant Density and Location: Optimization of Growth and Quality of Cut Sunflower in Tropical and Subtropical Environments

Tuane Carlesso Tomasi et al. Plants (Basel). .

Abstract

The cultivation of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) as a cut flower stands out in floriculture due to its aesthetic beauty and commercial value. Understanding how cut sunflower genotypes adapt to different edaphoclimatic regions and management practices is essential to optimize flower quality and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant density and location on the development, growth, and quality of cut sunflower in tropical and subtropical environments. Plant densities of 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 plants/m2 were evaluated in tropical climate and subtropical climate using a randomized block design in a factorial scheme. Results showed significant differences between locations for plant height, capitulum and stem diameter, final number of leaves, leaf area, leaf area index, phyllochron, and the developmental cycle. Plant density significantly influenced these variables except for plant height and developmental cycle. The interaction between location and plant density was significant only for capitulum diameter and final leaf number. The findings indicate that both planting density and location significantly influence the developmental cycle of cut sunflowers, with lower densities favoring more robust plants at harvest. A density of 30 plants/m2 is recommended for efficient space use without significantly compromising floral stem quality. All produced stems are marketable, suggesting that adjusting planting density can optimize production without compromising quality, adapting to specific regional conditions.

Keywords: Helianthus annuus L.; floriculture; plant population; subtropics; tropics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A): Capitulum diameter (CD), (B): stem diameter (SD), (C): final leaf number (FLN), (D): leaf area (LA), (E): leaf area index (LAI), (F): phyllochron (PHY) as a function of plant density of cut sunflower hybrid Vincent’s Choice.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A): Capitulum diameter (CD), (B): final leaf number (FLN) of cut sunflower hybrid Vincent’s Choice as a function of plant density in two locations (Dourados/MS and Santa Maria/RS). * indicates statistical difference by Bonferroni test < 0.05 according to the locations within each density.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Duration in °C day (A) and in days (B) of the developmental phases from sowing to R1 (SO-R1), from sowing to R4 (SO-R4) and from sowing to R5 (SO-R5) of cut sunflower hybrid Vincent’s Choice in two locations (Dourados/MS and Santa Maria/RS).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Daily minimum, maximum and mean temperatures (°C), solar radiation (Rad—MJ/m2 day), photoperiod HRLT (h), and precipitation (Prec—mm) during the experiment with cut sunflower hybrid Vincent’s Choice in two locations (Dourados/MS and Santa Maria/RS).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Maps of South America and Brazil, and the States of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) and Mato Grosso do Sul (MS) with the two sites where field experiments with sunflower were conducted (Santa Maria, and Dourados).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Reproductive stages R1, R4, and R5 in cut sunflower according to the PhenoGlad developmental scale used in the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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