ISHS Acta Horticulturae 813: VI International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
HELICONIA GENOTYPES UNDER PARTIAL SHADE: II. EVALUATION OF FLOWERING STEMS |
| Authors: | A.S. Costa, V. Loges, W.N.R. Guimarães, A.C.R. Castro, L.C. Nogueira |
| Keywords: | cut flower, tropical floriculture, pre-breeding, inflorescence, morphology |
| Abstract:
Heliconia beautiful tropical flowers are helping to increase profits of cut flower industry worldwide. The inflorescence durability and vivid colors are supporting the commercialization on the international market. In Brazil, Pernambuco State is leading the research, production, and commercialization of heliconia inflorescences. The Federal Rural University of Pernambuco State (UFRPE) maintains its own Heliconia Germplasm Collection, which supplied the 10 genotypes evaluated in this study. The experimental design was randomized complete block design, with four replications. Cultivated in partial shade, the genotypes evaluated during 18 months were: Heliconia bihai; H. bihai ‘Nappi Yellow’; H. caribaea x H. bihai ‘Carib Flame’; H. collinsiana; H. episcopalis; H. pendula; H. psittacorum x H. spathocircinata ‘Golden Torch’; H. rostrata; H. stricta I; and H. stricta II. The flowering stems were collected at harvesting point, according to the genotype features. The evaluated variables were: fresh weight of stem (FWS); stem diameter (SD); stem length (SL); inflorescence length (IL); number of open bracts (NOB); bracts arrangement (BA) and wax on inflorescences (WAX). H. collinsiana and H. rostrata, which have pendant inflorescences, presented higher values of IL and NOB. The heaviest FWS was obtained with H. bihai (470 g) and H. collinsiana (410 g), which would have higher influence on transportation costs. SL varied from 71.60 cm (H. stricta II) to 121.51 cm (H. collinsiana). These results supply information for further studies on plant breeding programs and also show the potential of heliconia genotypes for tropical cut flower industry. | |
Download Adobe Acrobat Reader (free software to read PDF files) | |
