92 JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. XI, NR. 1(18), 2019 CZU 581.9 : 635.925 METHODS OF GROWING AND CARING FOR ARGYRANTHEMUM FRUTESCENS L. Ina VOINEAC “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute), Chisinau, Republic of Moldova Abstract: This paper presents the results a study on several cultivars of Argyranthemum frutescens L. under the conditions of the National Botanical Garden (Institute) “Alexandru Ciubotaru”. Under the given climatic conditions, Argyranthemum frutescens L. can be easily propagated by cuttings, grows fast and blooms for a long time. According to the methods of cultivation developed by us, it can be grown in various types of flowerbeds or in containers, but only as an annual plant, because it cannot tolerate low temperatures. Key words: Argyranthemum frutescens L., biological features, propagation, care, observations INTRODUCTION Flowering plants, planted in the ground, require systematic, thorough maintenance. Watering, removal of weeds, loosening of the soil, systematic feeding with organic and mineral fertilizers, removal of wilted flowers, control of diseases and pests are necessary to keep the plants healthy and beautiful. Argyranthemum frutescens L. (subkingdom Magnoliophyta, class Magnoliopsida, order Asterales, family Asteraceae, genus Argyranthemum L. Sch. Bip) is known as Paris daisy, marguerite or marguerite daisy. This species was formerly placed in the genus Chrysanthemum, now it is considered part of an independent genus, Argyranthemum, which includes 23 species. Paris daisy is native to the Canary Islands and Madeira Island. The representatives of the genus Argyranthemum have adapted to various biotopes, they occur in almost all plant communities of the Canary Islands – from thickets of xerophytic shrubs to rainforests. They also live on dry slopes among xerophytic shrubs and on volcanic plateaus, at an altitude of more than 2 km above sea level. Some species of the genus Argyranthemum started being cultivated more than 200 years ago, they are perennial plants, appreciated for the abundant, long-lasting bloom, but are grown as annuals, because they do not tolerate low temperatures [3,6]. All the species of the genus Argyranthemum are small shrubs and subshrubs, 40-100 cm tall. The leaves are opposite or alternate, pinnately dissected or twice dissected, bright-green or silver-green. The inflorescences are numerous small flower heads (capitula), simple or double, with numerous ray florets. The marguerite daisy plants produce lax, irregular cymes with daisy-like flowers or anemone-like, with prominently featured disc florets, sometimes with two rows of ray florets, white, pink, yellow or peach. The fruit is a triangular, winged achene. These are fast-growing plants, which are appreciated for the long-lasting and abundant bloom; standard shapes are very popular [6]. Under the conditions of Moldova, A. frutescens L. is grown as annual shrub in open ground and in containers. Marguerites grow well in full sun, thrive in cool and stable warm weather, but do not tolerate heat. They grow well in nutrient-rich soil. The soil pH is also important, A. frutescens L. plants prefer neutral and slightly acidic soils. It is better to choose loams. A. frutescens L. was introduced in the “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute), from the Netherlands, in 2013. We studied the adaptive and biological JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. XI, NR. 1(18), 2019 93 features, the ontogenetic stages of various cultivars of A. frutescens L. and worked on the development of the agrotechnics of cultivation of the given crop under the climatic conditions of our country. MATERIALS AND METHODS The research was conducted in the greenhouse and on the experimental plot of the Floriculture Laboratory of the “Alexandru Ciubotaru” National Botanical Garden (Institute). Eight varieties of A. frutescens L. (′Pompon white′, ′AngelicTM′, ′Lemon′, ′Magenta′, ′Neptun′, ′Pink Delight′, ′Perfection pink′, ′Burgundy′, ′Giant Pink′) served as research subjects. The research was carried out following the methodology of Krasnovoy, Visyashchevoy, Yuskevich (1990). The phenological observations, the study of the biometric indicators in the open field, as well as the description of ontogenetic features were carried out according to the generally accepted “Methodology of Phenological Observations in the Botanical Gardens of the USSR” (1979) [ 4], Makarova, Vorobyova (1978). RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS Propagation. As mentioned in the specialized literature on this topic, A. frutescens L. propagates by seed and vegetatively. We received our plants as rooted cuttings, which were subsequently planted in the ground. During the entire growing season, we made observations on the plants and concluded that, under the given conditions, A. frutescens L. does not produce seeds. Therefore, the main method of propagation of this species in Moldova is a vegetative one, namely, by green cuttings. In horticulture, a cutting is a piece of a stem, 3-10 cm long, with two or three nodes, separated from the mother plant, which, under favourable conditions, produces new roots and develops into a new, independent plant. To preserve all the main characteristic traits of a certain variety, marguerite daisy is propagated by green cuttings. This method is convenient, effective and makes it possible to produce a large amount of high quality and uniform planting material. The method consists of the following steps. During the flowering period, typical plants, for this variety (Figure 1), not affected by any disease or pest, are selected as mother plants. Cuttings are taken from young vegetative shoots, grown from a Figure 1. Mother plants of Argyranthemum frutescens L., the variety Giant Pink dormant bud. 94 JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. XI, NR. 1(18), 2019 Because we took cuttings of A. frutescens L. in autumn (October, November), we cut them directly from plants grown in open field. The plants intended for taking cuttings in early-spring were transferred to a heated greenhouse and planted in the ground. The mother plants were kept in a cool greenhouse where the air temperature was not higher than +15° C and did not fall below +5°C. Plant care consisted in moderate, rare watering during winter. From March, as the temperature was rising, the frequency of irrigation increased, besides, it became necessary to apply fertilizers and to remove the weeds. When the air temperature was above +15°C, intensification in the shoot growth was observed. Under such conditions, at the end of February or at the beginning of March, one can start propagating marguerite daisy. Propagation by cuttings. The vigorous, fast-growing vegetative shoots are the best source of cuttings. It has been found that the species and varieties of plants have different regenerative capacity. Depending on it, the plants are considered difficult, medium and easy to root. While studying the ability of A. frutenscens L. to propagate vegetatively, we also studied the regenerative capacity of its varieties. According to the results of our research, A. frutescens L. is easy to root and has a high percentage of rooting (90-100%). However, there are certain differences in this feature among the varieties of this species (Table 1). Table 1. The duration of rooting of different varieties of Argyranthemum frutescens L. The average duration of rooting of cuttings (days), by month October November January February March April May Variety 2017 2017 2018 2018 2018 2018 2018 Pompon white 45 45 30 30 30 28 28 AngelicTMLemon 40 45 35 32 30 30 25 AngelicTMMagenta 54 45 38 30 26 28 28 Neptun 48 43 28 28 26 26 28 Pink Delight 45 45 30 32 30 28 24 Giant Pink 42 45 30 28 25 28 28 AngelicTMBurgundy 40 48 42 40 32 30 26 Sole Mio improved 50 51 45 30 32 28 25 Figure 2. Cuttings of Argyranthemum frutescens L. ready for planting JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. XI, NR. 1(18), 2019 95 In autumn, rooting occurs more slowly, but in spring – faster. Although in October- November it took two weeks longer to produce roots, the percentage of rooting was high. It is important that the cuttings are of the same length – 10-12 cm (Figure 2). The removal of a large number of leaves is undesirable, since a decrease in the leaf surface leads to a decrease in the amount of nutrients, in the cuttings, required for rooting. The cuttings taken from the mother plants are immediately planted in the rooting substrate without any preliminary treatment. Good aeration is necessary for the rooting process, and it is better achieved by shallow plantings of cuttings to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The substrate compaction is not necessary right after planting, because, at the first irrigation, it happens spontaneously. The cuttings should be planted according to the scheme 5x5 cm or 6x6 cm, depending on the size of leaves (Figure 3). Figure 3. Cuttings of Argyranthemum frutescens L., planted for rooting The cuttings can be planted for rooting in different types of containers: pots, cell plug trays or seedling racks, depending on the number of cuttings. The time of propagating A. frutescens L. by cuttings depends on the need for rooted cuttings by a specific date. A. frutescens L. can be propagated by cuttings almost all year round, because their rooting percentage is always very high. The only difference is the duration of the rooting process. In autumn and in the middle of summer, they need more time to take root (10-15 days longer) than in early spring. However, taking into account the peculiarities of growing A. 96 JOURNAL OF BOTANY VOL. XI, NR. 1(18), 2019 frutescens L. in open ground, it is preferable to take cuttings in autumn, to obtain young plants with a better-developed and stronger root system, at the time when they have to be transferred outdoors. The medium for rooting cuttings should be light, well drained and not compacted during irrigation. Good results have been obtained by us when rooting daisy marguerite in a mixture of sand and perlite (1:1), sand and peat (1:0.5) or sand with perlite and peat (1:0.5:0.5).