Growth and flowering of Alstroemeria

Abstract

The study was conducted to investigate the growth and flowering patterns of 3 cultivars of Alstroenieria and the effect of some floral preservatives on the vase-life of the produced cut flowers. Propagated rhizomes started sprouting 9 days after planting in all cultivars. 'Pink Perfection' produced more total shoots (flowering and non-flowering) than "Carrnen' and 'Marina'. "Carmen", 'Pink Perfection' and 'Marina' flowered 132, 215 and 245 days after planting respectively. The number and percentage of flowering shoots were higher in 'Carmen' followed by iPink Perfection' and 'Marina' in that order. The average lengths of inflorescences were 94.3 82.9 and 47.0 cm in 'Pink Perfection' y 'Marina' and 'Carmen's respectively< The percent marketable inflorescences improved with time, reaching their optimums after 3J., 40 and 44 weeks from planting in 'Carmen', 'Pink Perfection' and 'Marina', respectively. Pruning increased the total number of shoots and percentage of new shoots formed ln 'Marina'. The average rates of shoot production were 47.42 and 16.75% inpruned and unpruned hills, respectively. The total number of cut flowers from pruned- hills were 50.83% more than from the controls. The average length of .cu t stems were 119.6 and 96.2cm from pruned and unpruned hills, respectively. The average diameters of cut stems were 1.,07and 0.90 cm from pruned hills and controls, respectively. Pruning had no influence on the percent marketable stems. More white grade (~ 70 cm long) cut stems and less blue (60 - 69 cm long) and yellow (SO-59 cm) long grades were however produced from pruned hills than the controls. Sucrose, at 4% did not improve the vase life of the cut flowers of Alstroemeria cvs 'Carmen', 'Marina' and 'Pink Perfection'. All petals were shed at the same time as the controls. Petals from all cut flowers pretreated for 1 hour in silver thiosu1phate complex, then held in deionized water were shed 8, 7 and 6 days later than the controls in 'Carmen', 'Pink Perfection' and 'Marina', respectively. However, those cut flowers held in 4% sucrose solution instead of deionized water shed all petals 6~ 4 and 2 days later than the controls in 'Carmen', 'Pink Perfection' and 'Marina', respectively. Petals from all cut flowers pretreated for 1 hour in 2.5% chrysal, then held in deionized water were shed 9. 6 and 6 days later than -thecontrols in 'Carmen', 'Pink Perfection' and 'Marina', respectively. However, those held in 4% sucrose solution instead of deionized water, shed all petals 5, 4 and 2 days later than the controls in 'Carmen" 'Pink Perfection' and "Marina !, respectively