They can now use gibberellic acid (GA3), a plant growth hormone, instead of the usual lighting practice to produce better quality asters at less expense and consequently bigger profit.
Attesting to this is a study done by Dr. Leonido Naranja of UP Los Baños.
Aster is a flowering plant often used as filler for flower arrangements, bouquets, and corsages. Los Baños is the biggest aster producer in the country.
The only difficulty in planting aster is that it needs more lighting than ordinary flowering plants. Asters are "long-day plants", needing at least 18 hours of light a day to start growing.
Dr. Naranja explained the economics of the technology in a recent dialogue with PCARRD and Santiago City (Isabela) officials thus:
"A farmer who plants aster for the first time using artificial lighting will spend as much as P30,000 due to the high cost of materials such as wires and bulbs, and the electricity for the lighting on the plants. If he uses GA3, he will spend only P7,500.
"A grower can earn about P9,500 in the first harvest if he uses artificial lighting. A farmer using GA3 can earn P46,180." – Rudy A. Fernandez