ISHS Acta Horticulturae 552: XX International Eucarpia Symposium, Section Ornamentals, Strategies for New Ornamentals - Part I
DEVELOPMENT OF ALLIUM ASCHERSONIANUM, AN ISRAELI NATIVE SPECIES, AS A NEW ORNAMENTAL CROP |
| Authors: | Z. Gilad, E. Hovav, D. Sandler-Ziv, R. Kamenetsky |
| Keywords: | ornamental bulbs, morphogenesis, inflorescence, dormancy, propagation. |
| Abstract:
About 40 Allium species and cultivars are cultivated as garden and cut flowers in the Netherlands, Japan, Israel and a few other countries. Recently, the Israeli native species Allium aschersonianum, which is indigenous to the Jordan Valley and the Negev desert has shown promise for use as cut flowers and potted plants. In 1996-2000, we studied the natural life cycle of the species and developed experimental systems for its propagation. As with other geophytes, A. aschersonianum becomes reproductive after reaching a critical mass sufficient for floral development. Bulbs of A. aschersonianum initiate inflorescence during the third year of their development from seeds, but high-quality flowers can be obtained only from 3-year-old bulbs that are greater than 8/9 cm in circumference. Floral initiation occurs within the parent bulb in September, and flower formation continues for 2 months. When the bulb is planted in November, elongation of the flower scape begins after the development of 3-4 leaves and flowering occurs in January-February. We have developed systems for vegetative propagation which involve enhancing the initiation of the axillary meristems and the subsequent development of numerous daughter bulbs. | |
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