ISHS Acta Horticulturae 185: I International Protea Research Symposium
EXTENSION OF HARVESTING PERIOD IN LEUCOSPERMUM BY MEANS OF MANUAL AND CHEMICAL PRUNING METHODS |
| Author: | G.J. BRITS |
| Abstract:
Cut flower harvesting period in Leucospermum can be delayed by deactivation of primary inflorescence buds, but late treatment can cause loss of yield through poor resumption of secondary bud development. Primary inflorescence buds of 5-year old plants of three normally and two late flowering Leucospermum cultivars were sprayed with ethephon 250 mg l-1 in 1984 on August 1 or debudded by hand on August 14. Although the time of harvest was later, the length of the actual harvesting period was reduced in all treated plants. The 50% harvesting dates in ethephon treated and hand debudded plants coincided, confirming an approximately 14 day longer resumption time of bud development in the former. Treatments delayed 50% harvesting dates in normally flowering (Flamespike, Yellow bird, T77 10 07) and late cultivars, (Vlam, Caroline) by an average of 37 and 20 days respectively, thus extending the harvesting period of controls by 67% in normally and 9% in late flowering cultivars. Mean yield loss as a result of ethephon treatment and hand debudding was 11 and 3% respectively, tending to involve flowering stems of poorer quality. It was concluded that all 5 cultivars may safely be hand debudded and cvs. Flamespike, T77 10 07 and Vlam be treated with ethephon, up to August 1. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
