Cultural modification of Chrysanthemum Morifolium Ramat

The capacity of Chrysanthemum morifolium to produce a blue pigmentation through cultural modification involving a specific nutritional regime, soil pH conditions and metallic applications was explored. Two cultivars of cut chrysanthemum and five cultivars of garden chrysanthemum were used as plant material. Aluminum content of the leaves, stems and petals of the garden chrysanthemums was measured to test the ability of these plants to accumulate a metal. No correlations were found between nutritional regime, soil pH conditions, metal application and aluminum content of the plant parts. None of the seven cultivars grown in pot culture showed any blue pigmentation in their petals. The chrysanthemum does not appear to be a metal accumulator and therefore is not a likely candidate for blueing through the use of cultural manipulation.