ISHS Acta Horticulturae 673: IX International Symposium on Flower Bulbs
EFFECT OF ETHEPHON ON EASY POT FREESIA |
| Authors: | L. Startek, P. Zurawik |
| Keywords: | 'Popey', 'Suzy', 'Gompey', developmental stages, flowering, corm yield |
| Abstract:
A series of experiments were conducted during June to December in 2000 through 2002, to evaluate the effects of ethephon (a source of ethylene) on the growth, decorative value and corm yields of three cultivars of genetically short freesia. Plant material consisted of the cultivars: ‘Popey’, ‘Suzy’ and ‘Gompey’ from the Dutch breeding firm Van Staaveren (Royal Van Zanten). Ethephon (Flordimex 420 SL) was applied at the rate of 0.3-4.8 ml dm-3 (125-2000 mg dm-3 ethephon). Prior to planting corms were soaked for 24 hours in Flordimex 420 SL solution at six concentrations. Neutralised sphagnum peat supplemented with Osmocote Plus was the growing medium. Five corms per pot (N°14) were planted and kept in a plastic tunnel without cooling during the summer. Ethephon delayed emergency, growth and flowering; the higher its concentration the stronger the effects. It also increased the firmness of leaves and caused intensive branching of plants. Depending on concentration, the number of inflorescences and their decorative value decreased with an increase in concentration. The coefficient for increases in corm numbers increased while the corms weights decreased. Ethephon at the rate of 125-250 mg dm-3 slightly delayed flowering, improved and prolonged plant decorative value. In this case, there was also an increase in total number of corms, even doubled, although there was no effects on their total weight. | |
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