Effect of different ratio of vermicompost in culture media on seedling growth of gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.)

The effect of different ratio of vermicompost (0، 10، 20، 30، 40 & 50 %) in two type of substrate (coco peat and coco peat-perlite (50:50 V: V)) on growth characteristics of gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) seedling was investigated in Research Greenhouse of University of Tehran، in 2013. A factorial experiment based on completely randomized design with four replications was carried out. Criteria such as root length، shoot height، crown and plant diameter، leaf number and area، fresh and dry weight of aerial part and root، ratio of fresh and dry weight of shoot to root and chlorophyll index were evaluated. Results showed that treatments significantly affected most measured criteria in which root length in coco peat-perlite and Chlorophyll index in coco peat media were increased. Application of 10% vermicompost resulted in higher root length، leaf number، crown and plant diameter and 30% vermicompost caused the highest plant height. Interaction effect of treatments pronounced better for leaf area، root fresh and dry weight، shoot fresh and dry weight in media with coco peat-perlite and 20% vermicompost while no application of vermicompost in coco peat-perlite media caused the highest ratio of fresh and dry weight of shoot to root.