The effect of brushing on growth of coriander and thyme transplants in winter period

Mehaničko kondicioniranje presadnica je proces kojim se u biljkama stvara određeni stres, na koji one reagiraju smanjivanjem rasta u visinu i razvojem deblje i čvršće stabljike. Cilj je ovog istraživanja utvrditi utjecaj četkanja (0, 10 i 20 prohoda/dan) i sklopa biljaka (40 i 84 lončića/kontejneru) na rast presadnica korijandra i timijana u zimskom razdoblju. Presadnice su tretirane jutenom tkaninom od pojave kotiledonskih listova do faze presađivanja. Kod korijandra se četkanjem smanjuje visina presadnica te svježa masa listova i korijena samo u gušćem sklopu (84 lončića/kontejneru), a veći učinak ima 10 prohoda/dan. Također se smanjuju dimenzije lista, podjednako s 10 i 20 prohoda/dan i neovisno o sklopu. Udio suhe tvari u listovima i korijenu povećava se primjenom četkanja s 10 prohoda/dan, a nema utjecaja na broj listova/presadnici. Kod uzgoja timijana u gušćem sklopu četkanje značajno smanjuje visinu presadnica, dimenzije listova, svježu masu i udio suhe tvari nadzemnog dijela, a veći se učinak postiže s 20 prohoda/dan. Nema utjecaja na broj nodija i broj izbojaka/biljci. Može se preporučiti uzgoj u sklopu 84 lončića/ kontejneru, te tretman četkanja presadnica korijandra sa 10 prohoda/dan, a timijana s 20 prohoda/dan.Mechanical conditioning of seedlings is a process that creates specific stresses in plants, to which they respond by decreasing growth in height and developing thicker and stronger stems. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of brushing (0, 10 and 20 strokes per day) and plant density (40 and 84 pots per tray) on the growth of coriander and thyme seedlings during the winter period. The seedlings were treated with a jute cloth in the period from the appearance of the cotyledon leaves until the stage of transplantation. Brushing of coriander seedlings reduced the seedling height and the fresh mass of leaves and roots only at the higher plant density (84 pots per container), with a greater effect of 10 strokes per day. Also, leaf dimensions were reduced, both by 10 and 20 strokes per day and independently of the plant density. Dry matter content in leaves and root was increased by 10 strokes per day, but no effect on the number of leaves per seedling was recorded. At thyme seedlings cultivated in a higher plant density (84 pots per container), brushing significantly reduced the height of the seedlings, the leaf size, the fresh mass and the dry matter content of the aboveground plant part, and the greater effect was achieved with 20 strokes per day. No influence on number of nodes and shoots per plant was observed. Cultivation of seedlings in multi cell trays with 84 pots can be recommended for both plant species, along with brushing with 10 strokes per day for coriander and with 20 strokes per day for thyme