RESEARCH REGARDING THE INFLUENCE OF CULTIVAR AND STORAGE SUBSTRATE AT DAHLIA VARIABILIS DESF. CACTUS TYPE

Dahlia is one of the flowers always present in gardens near the houses, cultivated especially for the beauty of flowers and ornamental long period, until late autumn. The scientific researches presented in this paper were focused on finding the best substrates for storage during the rest period of the plant. The study was conducted during the years 2014 - 2015. In this paper were carried out researches on the influence of cultivar and of the substrate storage at Dahlia variabilis Desf. Cactus type. Were taken into study five varieties of Dahlia, ’Kennemerland’, ’Tsuki Yori No Sisha’, ’Hayley Jane’, ’Purple Gem’and ’Veritable’. Tuberous roots of these cultivars of dahlias were stratified during the rest period in the three substrates: sand, sand + sawdust (70% + 30%), peat + sawdust (70% + 30%). The best results were recorded in the substrate composed of peat + sawdust (70% + 30%), cultivars 'Kennemerland', 'Tsuki Yori No Sisha' and 'Veritable' had the best behavior in this substrate storage, showing significant differences from the other cultivars studied.