Effects of pinching and urea applications on flower quality and vase life of Safari Sunset and Gold Strike cultivars of protea

Aims: This study was carried out to determine the effects of pinching and urea applications on flower quality and vase life of Safari Sunset and Gold Strike protea cultivars. Methods and Results: In the study, the protea cultivars were pinched at the 3 cm soft pinching of shoot tip when the shoot length of the cultivars was reached to 15 cm, 20 cm and 25 cm. In addition, 0.5% and 1% urea were applied to the leaves. The effects of these applications on flower quality, flower size, flower color and vase life of protea cultivars were investigated. Gold Strike cultivar had the highest flower quality, 2nd and 3nd class, in P1xU1 (33.33% and 40.74% respectively) and P1xU2 51.85% and 51.84% respectively) applications. The first quality flowers in Safari Sunset were obtained from P3xU2 and P1xU2 applications (50.00% and 45.45% respectively). In both cultivars, the longest vase life determined in UA1xU1 and P1xU2 applications (18.2 days and 16.0 days, respectively) compared with control plants (13.3 days). Conclusions: In the results of the study, the flower quality and vase life of the proteas were affected at different levels by pinching (P) and urea (U) applications, especially the genetic structure of the cultivars. Significance and Impact of the Study: As a result, pinching and urea applications will be beneficial in order to obtain high quality flowers in protea cultivars