ISHS Acta Horticulturae 430: VII International Symposium on Flowerbulbs
INFLORESCENCE INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN CYRTANTHUS ELATUS |
| Author: | M.M. Slabbert |
| Abstract:
Flower bud initiation and development of Cyrtanthus elatus was studied over a 12 month period. This was done to define the stages of inflorescence development in order to determine the optimum period for flower forcing. Variables such as number of florets and inflorescences present, length of inflorescence and differentiation stage of oldest floret were recorded. Samples of inflorescences at different developmental stages were observed under a scanning electron microscope. The bulbs show a repeated sympodial branching system resulting in 2–4 inflorescences being present during each growing period, each inflorescence bearing 5–9 florets. In the primary inflorescence the pollen grains matured between August and December, while a second smaller bloom was observed in April. Floral parts of the tertiary inflorescence differentiate almost throughout the year to follow up the secondary inflorescence. A fourth inflorescence was observed during October to January, as well as during April to June, following the development of the tertiary inflorescence. Due to the fact that there are always between 2–4 inflorescences at different developmental stages present in each bulb, flower forcing could be difficult as forcing of one inflorescence could possibly be done at the cost of the following seasons' bloom. | |
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