ISHS Acta Horticulturae 714: XXII International Eucarpia Symposium, Section Ornamentals, Breeding for Beauty
IMPROVING THE EFFICIENCY OF HERBACEOUS PEONY BREEDING METHODS |
| Authors: | Y. Jacob, S. Mastrantuono, F. Ferrero |
| Keywords: | Paeonia lactiflora, cut flower, breeding, Mediterranean floriculture |
| Abstract:
Peony cultivated for the cut flower market is an increasingly popular crop. Cultivars used, are generally old varieties or derived hybrids belonging to the Paeonia lactiflora group. The lack of cultivars specifically adapted to cut flowers might be balanced by an efficient breeding effort. In this aim, we developed a soilless method in perlite bags, combined with a sequence of several environmentally controlled stages. This method allowed to drastically reduce necessary time between sowing and the first flowering. This artificial combined approach affecting the biological cycle of peony made it possible to obtain first flowers sprouting less than 27 months after seeds sowing. By this experimental way, environmental requirements of peonies were more precisely defined. These results could contribute to breed herbaceous peony more efficiently than traditional methods. They could also have a significant impact on peony growth and propagation activities and methods under Mediterranean conditions. | |
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