Effect of paclobutrazol on flowering, leaf and flower colour of Consolida orientalis.

Effect of paclobutrazol on flowering characteristics, leaf and flower colour of Consolida orientalis (Gay) Schrod., native to South Anatolia (Turkey) was investigated. Seeds were directly sown into soil under unheated greenhouse and natural photoperiod conditions on 17 January and paclobutrazol at concentrations of 0 (control), 125, 250 and 500 mg·L -1 was applied to plants as foliar spray, when 5% of plants had elongated first internodes. Paclobutrazol had no significant effect on the time from sowing to flowering. Plant height, length and internode length of main and secondary inflorescences, pedicel length and the number of secondary inflorescence significantly reduced with increasing concentrations of paclobutrazol. Flower number on main inflorescence at concentration of 250 mg·L -1 , and stem diameter and flower number on secondary inflorescence at concentration of 500 mg·L -1 increased compared with control treatment. Paclobutrazol decreased lightness (L*) and colour saturation (chroma) values of leaves and lightness (L*) of flowers. Plants treated with paclobutrazol had darker green leaves and deeper violet flowers than that of control plants.