ISHS Acta Horticulturae 570: VIII International Symposium on Flowerbulbs
RESEARCH NEEDS FOR FLOWER BULBS (GEOPHYTES) |
| Authors: | M. Le Nard, A.A. De Hertogh |
| Keywords: | bulb growth, bulb quality, flower quality, bulb genetics, forcing |
| Abstract:
Future research on the growth, development and flowering of flower bulbs must be unique and not homogeneous. There are two major reasons : (1) the genera that are used commercially were introduced either long ago or only recently and (2) the genera have different economic impacts. These aspects directly affect the importance and the nature of the research programmes. Independent of the genus or the sophistication of the research programmes, the ultimate goal of the research must be to provide bulb growers and users with the technologies that will allow them to: (1) have plants with highly efficient growth cycles, (2) obtain products with high quality market standards, and (3) be able to reproduce the results year-in and year-out. These goals (optimizing plant growth, quality, and reproducibility) provide the base of the presentation. We shall identify areas where research is needed and the nature of research that should be conducted. Several factors must be taken into account. They are: (1) research on the effects of external factors on physiological processes is necessary for the commercial use of any species; (2) basic research must be undertaken to obtain an understanding of fundamental processes like bulbing, floral induction, etc... ; (3) basic research often leads to the question of genetic control of the process. The latter point raises the question of which model(s) plant(s) should be used for basic research? It is clear that all research needs to be interdisciplinary. Also, that international cooperation and continuous funding are necessary for the research programmes to be effective. | |
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