EFFECT OF DIFFERENT GREENHOUSE ON THE FLOWERING OF ALSTROEMERIA

Ornamental floriculture is becoming a very important economic activity in some countries. It is a dynamic market that needs a production system based on climatic conditions, soil cost, commercial distribution and production and postharvest technologies. Alstroemeria culture for cut flower production has greatly improved in the last years in Europe, especially since a number of new hybrids have appeared with good qualities that are suitable for greenhouse production. The objective of our study was to determine what kind of climatic conditions Alstroemeria culture could adapt to in the Madrid climate region. As Alstroemeria culture is limited to temperate regions, we studied the effect of six greenhouses on flowering of Alstroemeria aurantiaca D. Don cv. Bloemfontaine over three years. The six greenhouses had three variables namely, glazing (polyethylene or glass); heating (minimum temperature at 10°C or kept at ambient temperature); and lighting (with or without supplemental photoperiodic lighting). The greenhouses (plastic or glass) were provided with heating and/or lighting support. During the first year, the plastic greenhouses flowered earlier than the glass ones, while during the subsequent two years glass greenhouses flowering earlier. The glass houses had a longer harvesting period than the plastic ones. Heating and lighting in the greenhouses accelerated flowering, but also provided a longer harvesting period compared to either no heating or no lighting.

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