ISHS Acta Horticulturae 266: V International Symposium on Flower Buds
THE EFFECT OF PRECOOLING, ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND GROWTH-REGULATING SUBSTANCES ON PLANT HEIGHT OF FREESIA AS POTPLANT |
| Authors: | J. Berghoef, A.P. Zevenbergen |
| Abstract:
Plant height of Freesia can be reduced by ancymidol or paclobutrazol, applied either as a soil-drench or as a dip before planting. Corm dipping resulted in leaf damage and a large variability at effective concentrations. Variability is not caused by differences in uptake. Soil drench reduced flower stem length more than leaf length, positioning the flowers between the leaves which makes the plants unmarketable. Reduction of plant height by growth-regulating substances varied by the season and from year to year, probably caused by differences in temperature and light-intensity. Precooling the corms at 13°C for 6–7 weeks reduced height, but less than needed for the European market. Precooling also reduced the number of flower buds per inflorescence and the number of flowering side-branches, resulting in a too short keepability. Due to the problems indicated, culture of Freesia as a potplant has no future in the Netherlands. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
