The effect of compost on seedling growth of a promising mutant of Hoya diversifolia

Abstract

Wardani FF, Rivai RR, Rahayu S. 2017. The effect of compost on seedling growth of a promising mutant of Hoya diversifolia. Pros Sem Nas Masy Biodiv Indon 3: 157-162. Hoya diversifolia Blume is a plant from the Apocynaceae with beautiful flowers. It is a species with commercial potential as a decorative plant. A genetic improvement program to produce new H. diversifolia variants based on mutation using gamma rays generated a white flowered mutant that differed from the parent. Because we lacked information about the mutant’s potential seedling growth that we need for its cultivation, an experiment was designed to compare the seedling growth of the white-flowered mutant with the growth of its parent in media containing a range of different nutrient levels provided by compost. The experimental design was a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors: the varieties of plants, and the compost dosage in the growth medium. The plant varieties were H. diversifolia (V2) and its mutant (V1). The growth medium was cocopeat, mixed with different doses of compost, i.e. 0% (B1), 50% (B2), and 25% (B3). Data analysis of plant growth showed that the varieties differed significantly in plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width and petiole length. Compost doses had a significant effect on stem diameter and petiole length. The interaction of variety and compost dose was statistically significant for plant height, stem diameter, number of branches, number of leaves, leaf length, and petiole length: the best treatment for H. diversifolia was the growth medium with no compost added(0% dose)while the best treatment for its mutant was the treatment in which there was 25% compost mixed in the growth medium (ANOVA, α = 5%). We conclude from the research that the compost level in the medium required for optimal growth of the H. diversifolia mutant is higher than the level required for its parent.