EXPLANTS MODULATES GROWTH CHARACTERISTICS OF IN –VIVO PROPOGATED CHRYSANTHEMUM CULTIVARS

Three different explants, herbaceous cuttings (HC), Soft wood cuttings (SWC) and Semi hard wood cuttings (SHWC), were collected from stems of seven chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium) cultivars that successfully developed roots. These cultivars were collected from Capital Development Authority (CDA), Islamabad, and grown at Faculty of Agriculture, Rawalakot, Azad Kashmir, Pakistan, during 2006-2007, as stock plant. Plants produced through HC gave better performance for overall growth characteristics and survival percentage compared to the plants produced by SWC and SHWC. In general SWC also gave better survival percentages than SHWC. Various cultivars propagated through cuttings, exhibited variability in overall growth and floral characteristics. Anemone yellow, Spider Red and Korean Hybrid Yellow proved successful cultivars with 100 % survival rate of plantlets. Anemone Yellow, Red Spider and Spider Yellow, produced more tillers plant^-1. Korean Hybrid produced more branches, and leaves. Anemone Yellow and Korean Hybrid Yellow produced more flowers plant^-1. Use of HC, SWC and SHWC proved as an easier and useful method for multiplication of chrysanthemum cultivars.