Temperature-base and soma thermal for Zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry’ potted grown in protected environment

The growing of consumer market demands introduction of new species of flowers and cultivars primarily for production under protected cultivation. The zinnia by the quickness of production can be regarded as an alternative, however demand studies by the lack of information in the literature. We evaluated the duration of different periods, the base temperature and thermal accumulation, expressed as degree-days for the potted zinnia ‘Profusion Cherry’, conducted under protected cultivation for different phenological subperiods. The test was conducted in a greenhouse covered with plastic and closed laterally with shading-net and the duration of subperiods were made to twenty times after sowing. The base temperature was determined by relative development and values-based temperature and thermal time in degree-days (DD). The results for the different phases were, respectively: first open flower-planting: 4.1 °C and GD 838, first open flower - 50% of flowers open: 3.0 °C and 184 GD and 50% of flowers open - senescence: 6.9 °C and 238 GD.