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.