ISHS Acta Horticulturae 614: VI International Symposium on Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate: Product and Process Innovation
ADVANCED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES FOR LIMONIUM GMELINII |
| Authors: | E. Farina, C. Dalla Guda, E. Scordo, S. Castello, T. Paterniani, M. Palagi |
| Keywords: | photoperiod, gibberellic acid, selected clones |
| Abstract:
Limonium gmeliniiis a perennial plant flowering in late spring. This ornamental species was introduced into cultivation some years ago but it is not extensively cultivated up to now. Research has been carried out for selection of superior genotypes, micropropagation, temperature and photoperiod requirement for flowering, effects of gibberellic acid application. The response to temperature and to GA3 application is potentially useful to obtain early or late production or more than one flush of flowers/year. In this paper the results of some production techniques useful to obtain a second flush of production in late autumn for the exploitation of the selected clonal material are reported. One-year-old plants grown in unheated greenhouse in the area of the Riviera dei Fiori (Sanremo – Italy) were sprayed twice in September with 500 mg/L GA3. The treated or control plants were maintained in ND conditions or 16 hours photoperiods (LD). One of the three clones did not show flowering response in any combination “GA3 concentration x photoperiod condition”. The other clones showed a certain aptitude to flowering. In such cases flower yield was increased by 16 hours photoperiods (1.4 stems/plant vs. 0.6 stems / plant) or by GA3 application (0.57 vs 0.07 stems /plant) depending on the clone.In the second experiment one year old plants (two clones) that had already flowered in summer were subjected to the following treatments: 1) Control (GA3 0 mg/L) followed by ND conditions; 2) GA3 500 mg/L (two applications in September) followed by ND conditions; 3) GA3 500 mg/L (two applications in September) followed by LD conditions. The trial was carried out in greenhouse at a minimum temperature of 12 °C. Both clones displayed bolting and flowering in the case of GA3 application. Poor effects on blooming rate and flower yield on the GA3 supplied plants were determined by the photoperiodic conditions. In conclusion a late flush of flower (the second in the solar year) can be obtained in the Sanremo area by utilizing micropropagated material with suitable aptitude (selected clones). The application of clone-specific cultivation techniques (applications of GA3 or of photoperiodic conditions) can determine this late production flush or increase its flower yield. | |
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