ISHS Acta Horticulturae 807: International Symposium on Strategies Towards Sustainability of Protected Cultivation in Mild Winter Climate
CROP RESPONSE OF LISIANTHUS (EUSTOMA GRANDIFLORUM SHINN.) HYBRIDS GROWN IN SOILLESS CULTURE |
| Authors: | G. Fascella, S. Agnello, F. Delmonte, B. Sciortino, G. Giardina |
| Keywords: | gentian family, 'Echo' series, hydroponics, growing technique |
| Abstract:
With the aim to evaluate growth and flowering performance of Lisianthus hybrids as protected cultivation in NW Sicily environment, a one-year trial of soilless culture of 4 commercial varieties was carried out in an unheated greenhouse. Plants of the double-flower cultivars ‘Echo white’, ‘Echo yellow’, ‘Dream white blue’ and ‘Dream white pink’ were grown in polypropylene containers filled with a mixture of perlite and coconut coir dust (1:1, v/v), in an open-loop system. Three flowering flushes were achieved. The four hybrids significantly differed on growth, yield and quality: cultivars ‘Echo white’ and ‘Dream white pink’ showed earlier flowering (150 days from transplanting) but lower production (61.5 stems m-2) than the later (170 d) and more productive (67.0 stems m-2) ‘Echo yellow’ and ‘Dream white blue’. The latter cultivar supplied cut flower stems with the maximum average length (68.3 cm), fresh weight (178.6 g) and highest number of flower buds (29.3 per stem). | |
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