ISHS Acta Horticulturae 109: III International Symposium on Flower Bulbs
THE USE OF THE CROSS OF DIPLOID SPECIES BY TETRAPLOID GLADIOLI TO OBTAIN WINTER FLOWERING CULTIVARS |
| Author: | Ch. Poisson |
| Abstract:
Except for the spring hybrids, gladiolus cultivars derive from the hybridization between tetraploid intertropical species (2n = 4x = 60). On account of their origin, these cultivars are growing during spring and summer;on the contrary, the growth of the corms is promoted by decreasing day length, which goes with the decrease of rainfall. In our latitude in winter, the conjonction of low light and short days leads to partial or total spike abortion. Indeed, the abortion can be limited more or less by the low density of plantation and the use of long photoperiod but these precautions are not sufficient to allow a commercially usable production during January, February and March. Thanks to private collectors, we could introduce in the Floral Plant Breeding Station in Fréjus, a series of South African diploid species originating from the Cape and confirm that they flower in autumn and winter without difficulty provided the minimum temperature during the night is 10 to 12 degrees centigrade. Because these species are not usable as commercial products, we have attempted to create a new material, combining the qualities of intertropical and South African species and giving a handle to selection. In fact, our final object is to obtain plants which can grow and flower at high density in winter and which have dimensions consistent with the exiguity of town flats. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
