The plant size, growth rate and the degree of branching represent important criteria for determining the stage of commercial plant. This paper aimed to study the behaviour of plants belonging to the species Begonia masoniana and Begonia rex depending on the volume of substrate, in order to obtain plants for sale. The plant material, obtained from leaf cuttings, was planted in a mixture of peat and perlite (2:1), in pots of different sizes: 8 cm (0,32 l), 10 cm (0,4 l), 12 cm (0,7 l). The observations and determinations were focused on: the average height of the plant, the average diameter of the plant, the average length and width of the leaf, the average number of leaves. In order to obtain in a short period of time plants with rich shrubs for sale, it is recommended in the case of the Begonia masoniana species to use pots with a diameter of 8 cm, respectively a small volume of substrate. The main morphological characteristics of Begonia rex ‘Inca Fire’, express the best performance of plants in the larger volume container (12 cm diameter).

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STUDY ON THE VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF SOME BEGONIA L. SPECIES
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2. UNIVERSITATEA DIN CRAIOVA
UNIVERSITY OF CRAIOVA
Seria:  Biologie
 Horticultură
 Tehnologia prelucrării
produselor agricole
 Ingineria mediului
Vol . XVIII ( LIV ) – 2013
STUDY ON THE VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION OF SOME BEGONIA L.
SPECIES
Manda Manuela, Nicu Carmen
1
Key words: Begonia sp., vegetative propagation, rooting medium
ABSTRACT
The present paper presents the results regarding the vegetative propagation of
some Begonia species. The rooting duration and the quality of the cuttings rooted at the
studied species were monitored in two kinds of media: peat and sand; peat and perlite.
Parameters investigated include the rooting duration and the quality evaluation of the
cuttings according to the used medium, by determining the length of the cuttings, the
number and the length of the roots. The rooting duration was different from a species to
another: between 69 days at Begonia rex ‘Fairy’ and 111 days at Begonia masoniana. The
most indicated rooting medium according to the species was peat and sand for Begonia
masoniana and peat and perlite for B. rex ‘Fairy’ and B. rex ‘Inca Fire’ .
INTRODUCTION
Begonia is the largest genus of flowering plants, with 1400 – 1500 species and
hybrids with an infinite selection of sizes, growth habits, foliages, and flowers. It consists
of herbaceous perennials that are widely cultivated as ornamental houseplants, mainly for
their showy flowers and colorful leaves (Hvoslef A. K. and Munster C., 2006; Doorenbos et
al., 1998; Tebbitt C.Mark, 2005; Tjia B. and R. J. Black, 2003). In recent years, many field
surveys on begonias had been carried out in the world and new species continues to be
discovered and described. It is estimated that there are about 10,000 Begonia hybrids and
cultivars worldwide (Peng et al., 2010). The genus is widely distributed and mostly
pantropical (Forrest et al., 2005).
Most foliage begonias, especially the Rex types, are very useful design elements
because of the large selection of colors and patterns available. In many cases, the foliage
begonias are excellent alternative to some of the flowering potted plants because they offer
different colours, textures, and a product which outlasts most floral products by a
considerable margin (Tjia B., 2003; Poole and Henley, 1989).
Given the wide diversity of species and varieties within the Begonia genus, the
knowledge of the biological characteristics of plants and their response to various
environmental and agro-technical works are essential in the design and application of the
advanced technologies (Selaru Elena, 2000).
1
Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, University of Craiova
223

3. Begonias can be propagated using a number of different methods, but most
commonly from seeds, stem cuttings and leaf cuttings. (Anton D., 2006; Cruceru S., 2006;
Hartmann T.H , 1993; Vidraşcu P., 2002). From "leaf cutting" method of propagation is
often considered the method of choice amongst growers and is more common with rex and
rhizomatous begonias. (Oyeyemi 0., 2011)
The researches in our country are scarce and worldwide are not systematic; the
optimal medium for rooting differ from author to author and from species to species.
Common mediums recommended for rooting cuttings of begonia are perlite and vermiculite
or a combination of both. Another medium for rooting is peat moss or various combos of
peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. (Thompson, B., 2002). Claude Ferry, 2004 recommends
a nutritive ground of 60% peat, 30% leaves soil and 10% sand plus a slow releasing
fertilizer of 16-11-11 type, the appropriate pH being 6-6.5. (Cruceru S., 2007)
This paper presents the results of the vegetative propagation (by leaf cuttings) of
two species of the Begonia genus: B. masoniana and B. rex, for the last species being also
studied two varieties: 'Inca Fire' and 'Fairy'. The vegetative propagation of the studied
species of Begonia was monitored using two media for rooting: peat and sand (1:1); peat
and perlite (1:1).
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The initial biological material consisted of Begonia masoniana, Begonia rex 'Inca
Fire' şi Begonia rex 'Fairy' cuttings, obtained from the Floriculture discipline collection of
the Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture in Craiova.
Begonia masoniana Irmsch., originally from China, is a robust plant with large
(16-20 cm length and 10-12 cm width) cordiforme, embossed leaves with red hairs on the
top folds and a brown drawing in the form of a cross on the line of the main veins, hence
the name "iron cross".
Begonia x rex cultorum Bailey. includes many hybrids with rhizomatic, pulpy,
creeping way of growing stems, and it is the most common begonia cultivated for its
ornamental leaves. The leaves are very beautiful, cordiforme-asymmetric, embossed,
sharply pointed, with a wavy and slightly serrated edge. The colour varies from green to
reddish purple or silver and has concentric zones, spots or mosaics in shades and different
colours, which are also very attractive. The pink or red flowers are insignificant compared
to the leaves. (Anton Doina, 2006)
Begonia rex 'Inca Fire' is 25 cm high and 40 cm diameter. The leaves are 13 cm
long and 9 cm width, are skew-asymmetric, ovate, of red colour with metallic luster. The
petiole is red and covered with pink hairs.
Begonia rex 'Fairy' is 20 cm high and 40 cm diameter. The leaves are 17 cm long
and 12 cm width, are skew-asymmetric, ovate, of olive green colour with large silvery spots
on the upper side and red on the lower side. The petiole is red covered with red hairs.
The research was conducted between 2011 and 2012 in the greenhouse of the
Floriculture discipline of the Faculty of Agriculture and Horticulture, a greenhouse with
average temperatures ranging between 18 and 20°C, during experimentation. The
vegetative propagation of the studied species of Begonia was monitored using two media
for rooting: peat and sand (1:1); peat and perlite (1:1), resulting in the following
experimental variants: V 11- B. masoniana/P+P; V12-B.masoniana/P+N; V21-B. rex ‘Inca
Fire’/P+P; V22-B. rex ‘Inca Fire’/P+N; V31-B. rex ‘Fairy’/P+P; V32-B. rex ‘Fairy’/P+N.
There were used leaf mature cuttings, harvested in November 2011. The cuttings were
reaped, shaped and treated with Radistim1. Parameters investigated include the rooting
224

4. duration and the quality evaluation of the cuttings according to the used medium, by
determining the length of the cuttings, the number and the length of the roots.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The data presented in Table 1 show that the percentage of rooting of the Begonia
cuttings was not influenced by the rooting substrate, the recorded values being maximal
(100%) for all the experimental variants.
Analysing the effect of the substrate on the rooting duration of the cuttings, there
was observed that for B. masoniana the best results were obtained in the peat+ sand
substrate, when the rooting duration of the cuttings was of 107 days (V11), compared to
115 days for the peat + perlite substrate (V12), Table 1.
The best substrate for the rooting of the B. rex 'Inca Fire' cuttings was peat +
perlite, the rooting duration of the cuttings being of 77 days in comparison to 87 days for
the peat + sand substrate.
For the B. rex 'Fairy' the best results of the rooting of the cuttings were obtained in
the peat + perlite substrate (66 days), compared to 72 days when the cuttings were rooted in
peat + sand.
Making a comparison between the two species, the results show very large
differences in terms of the rooting duration of the cuttings. The best results in this respect
were obtained for B. rex with values ranging between 69 days and 82 days, as compared to
B. masoniana which rooted after 111 days. (Table 1)
Between the two varieties of B. rex the difference in terms of the rooting duration
of the cuttings was of 15 days for the 'Fairy' variety, the average values ranging between 69
and 82 days.
Table 1
The effect of the substrate on the rooting duration of Begonia sp.
Variants
Data harvesting
leaf cuttings
Data rooting
cuttings
Rooting
duration
Media
V11- B. masoniana/P+P
5.11.2011
27.02.2012 115
111
V12-B. masoniana/P+S 19.02.2012 107
V21-B. rex ‘Inca Fire’/P+P 20.01.2012 77
82
V22-B. rex ‘Inca Fire’/P+S 30.01.2012 87
V31-B. rex ‘Fairy’ /P+P 9.01.2012 66
69
V32-B. rex ‘Fairy’/P+S 15.01.2012 72
In figure 1, the average number of roots for the two species of Begonia recorded
the highest values of the cuttings rooting in the peat + perlite substrate, the values ranging
between 8.5 and 12.25 roots/plant, in comparison to 8.5 -10 roots/plant, the latter values
corresponding to the peat + sand substrate.
Regarding the average length of roots for the B. masoniana cuttings, the highest
values were recorded for the peat + sand substrate (V12-10.06 cm), and for the two
varieties of B. rex the maximum values of the root length correspond to the peat + perlite
substrate (V21-9.08 cm for B. rex 'Inca fire', V31-9.2 cm for B. rex 'Fairy').
225

5. The figure 2 shows that the Begonia masoniana seedlings developed better in the
peat + sand substrate (4.74 cm high and 11.42 cm diameter), in comparison to the rooted
cuttings in the peat + perlite substrate (4.42 cm high and 9.87 cm diameter).
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
V11- B.
masoniana/P+P
V12-B.
masoniana/P+S
V21-B. rex
‘Inca Fire’/P+P
V22-B. rex
‘Inca Fire’/P+S
V31-B. rex
‘Fairy’ /P+P
V32-B. rex
‘Fairy’/P+S
the average number of roots
the average length of roots
Figure 1. The effect of the substrate type on the rooting of the
Begonia masoniana, B. rex 'Inca Fire' and B. rex 'Fairy' cuttings
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
V11- B.
masoniana/P+P
V12-B.
masoniana/P+S
V21-B. rex
‘Inca Fire’/P+P
V22-B. rex
‘Inca Fire’/P+S
V31-B. rex
‘Fairy’ /P+P
V32-B. rex
‘Fairy’/P+S
(cm)
the height of the seedlings the diameter of the seedlings
Figure 2. The effect of the rooting substrate on the height and diameter of the seedlings
For the two varieties of Begonia rex the best results in terms of the vegetative
growth were obtained using the peat + perlite substrate (4.58 cm high, 11.25 cm diameter
for 'Inca Fire' and 4.92 cm high, 13.2 cm diameter for 'Fairy').
226

6. CONCLUSIONS
The differences between the two species of Begonia in terms of the rooting
duration of the cuttings were significant, ranging between 69 and 82 days for Begonia rex,
in comparison to Begonia masoniana which rooted after 111 days.
The best results in terms of the rooting duration were obtained for Begonia
masoniana in the peat + sand substrate, and for the two varieties of Begonia rex in the peat
+ perlite substrate.
For Begonia rex species there is a difference of 15 days between the average
values of the rooting duration in the favour of the 'Fairy' variety.
Regarding the average length of roots, the highest values were recorded by B.
masoniana for the peat + sand substrate, and for the two varieties of B. rex the maximum
root length values correspond to the rooted plants on the peat + perlite substrate.
The average number of roots, depending on the used rooting substrate, recorded
the highest values for rooting the cuttings in the peat + perlite substrate, for the both species
of Begonia.
In terms of the effect of the rooting substrate on the average height and diameter of
the seedlings, the best substrate for Begonia masoniana and B.rex 'Fairy' was the peat and
sand, and the best results for B rex 'Inca Fire' were recorded in the peat + perlite substrate.
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