GERMINATION AND GROWTH OF CELOSIA CRISTATA L., UNDER VARIOUS LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE REGIMES

Continuous light or alternating light and dark appear to be necessary for good germination of Celosia cristata L. As temperature increased up to 31 C so did germination; thereafter, it decreased. There appears to be a preference for high constant or high alternating temperatures in germination. As light intensity decreased so did growth in terms of leaf area, dry weight and relative growth rate. Proportionally more leaf is also made and leaf:area ratio increased. However, root weight ratio decreased. Although both high light intensity and high temperature are required for the good growth of Celosia, temperature appeared to be more important than light. A reduction of less than one-third of full light may not cause a significant reduction in growth. The results explain the observed differences in the nature of C. cristata in the field as well as its distributional limits.