An investigation on domesticating and determinating some biological characteristics of two dianthus species (D. calocephalus Boiss. and D. orientalis Adams.) grown in Antalya flora

ABSTRACT AN INVESTIGATION ON DOMESTICATING AND DETERMINATING SOME BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF TWO DIANTHUS SPECIES (D. calocephalus Boiss. and D. orientalis Adams.) GROWN IN ANTALYA FLORA Deniz HAZAR Ph. D. Thesis in Department of Horticulture Adviser: Prof. Dr. İbrahim BAKHR January 2006, 173 pages This study was conducted to determine the possibilities of using two Dianthus species, D. calocephalus and D. orientalis, as ornamental plants. For this purpose growing conditions in nature, morphological and anatomical characteristics of these species were investigated. Different propagation methods, such as seeds, cutting and tissue culture, were tired and investigated in order to determine the most successful propagation method. Propagated seedlings were planted onto stoolbed, pots and flower parterres. Phenological and morphological investigations were conducted in these three different planted areas. Species were also evaluated in terms of vase life which is an important criteria for cut flowers. Possibilities of using these two species as dried flowers were examined too. Experiment results showed D. calocephalus could be used as cut flower, pot flower, landscape design plant and also dried flowers. However, D. orientalis could be only used as landscape design plant specially when flowering plants are scarce especially in fall. KEY WORDS: Anatomy, Dianthus, morphology, palynology, propagation methods, in vitro, cut flower, pot flower, landscape design plant, vase life, dried flower COMMITEE: Prof. Dr. îbrahim BAKTIR Prof. Dr. Lami KAYNAK Prof. Dr. Hüseyin SÜMBÜL Prof. Dr. Ercan ÖZZAMBAK Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sibel MANSURO?LU n