Growth and flowering of ornithogalum saundersiae L
Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the influence
of bulb size, g~owth ~ata~dants and va~ious methods of
bulb handling afte~ flowe~ ha~vest on the g~owth and
flowe~ing of Ornithogalum saundersiae L. The sizes of
bulbs used we~e 3.0-4.0cm (very small), 5.0-5.5 (small)
6.0-7.0 (medium) and 7.S-8.0cm (la~ge) in diamete~. The
la~ger bulbs produced
and daughter bulbs than
highe~ total number of shoots
one'>
the smalle~ ~e. All bulbs
planted p~odLiced inf IO~eSCf!nCes. The numbe~ of
inflo~escences p~oduced inc~eased with increasing bulb
size. The large, medium, small and very small bulbs
p~oduced 3(). 2, 17.6, 12.3 and 5.7 inflorescences,
~espectively. The quality of these inflo~escences in
te~ms of length and diamete~ of flowe~ stalks and number
of flo~ets pe~ inflo~escence dec~eased with inc~easing
bulb size.
Alar and ecc (cycocel) applied to bulbs at 1000 and
2000 PPffi~ad no significant effect on the length of
inflo~escences. These two g~owth ~eta~dants induced the
p~oduction of significantly mo~e inflorescences than the
control. Bulbs t~eated with eth~el applied to bulbs at
1000 and 2000 ppm did not flower. Treating the bulbs with
Ala~ at 2000 ppm and ece at 1000 ppm resulted in
production of significantly more but smaller dauqhter
bulbs than the other treatment. The three growth
retardants used did not significantly affect the total
number of shoots produced.
Among the different methods of bulb handling studied~
defoliating plants and or removing soil around the bulbs
to expose them to the sun promoted the production of the
earliest and highest number of . inflorescences. Plants
from the bulbs that were lifted for a month and then
replanted produced the best quality inflorescences
although flowering was greatly delayed. Plants that were
left to continue growing after inflorescences were
harvested showed the least growth.
Citation
Kariuki, W(1990). Growth and flowering of ornithogalum saundersiae LSponsorhip
University of NairobiPublisher
Department of soil science, University of Nairobi
Description
Msc - Thesis