ISHS Acta Horticulturae 683: V International Symposium on New Floricultural Crops
ALSTROEMERIA: A CHARMING GENUS |
| Authors: | A.M. Sanso, M. Camargo de Assis, C.C. Xifreda |
| Keywords: | cut flowers, pot flowers, landscape use, biodiversity, phylogeny. |
| DOI: | 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.683.5 |
| Abstract:
Alstroemeria (Alstroemeriaceae), the Incas lily, an exclusively South American genus comprises near 90 species ranging from Venezuela (3° North) to Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (53° South). Alstroemeria species and hybrids have gained world-wide importance as cut flower crop due to its attractive flowers and the excellent keeping quality of them. Nevertheless, they are also suitable for growing in pots and for garden and landscape uses. The recent taxonomic revisions of the group for Brazil (Assis, 2001), Argentina (Sanso, 1996), and Chile (Bayer, 1987), the biosystematic research (Aagesen and Sanso, 2003; Sanso and Xifreda, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003) and the chromosome studies (Sanso and Hunziker, 1998; Sanso, 2002) have facilitated the identification of the taxa and improved the basic knowledge of the genus. The nomenclature of the species, their geographical distribution, ecological characteristics and the interspecific relationships are now better understood. Many wild taxa, that are scarcely known so far, carry genetic traits that open possibilities for improvement and development of more attractive new varieties. For example, some of the Brazilian taxa have an important potential value in breeding programmes because of their showy flowers and the rigid leaves, instead of the very tender foliage that possess most of the species; some Patagonian ones have rather short plant height, which is important for potted plants. Several species of the wild populations are nowadays threatened and with risk of extinction. Most of the species occupy reduced geographical areas. Species that inhabit plain regions are vulnerable because those fields are burned and cultivations are introduced. Patagonian species especially need to be protected, against the grazing of the animals. The cultivation of the native plants would help to the ex situ conservation. Reintroduction in some natural areas might also play an important role in order to maintain the landscape value. | |
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