Flowering control in Watsonia: Effects of corm size, temperature, photoperiod and irradiance

Dave I. Thompson; Ntombizamatshali P. Mtshali; Glendon D. Ascough; John E. Erwin; Johannes Van Staden

doi:10.1016/j.scienta.2011.04.004

Flowering control in Watsonia: Effects of corm size, temperature, photoperiod and irradiance

Dave I. Thompson, Ntombizamatshali P. Mtshali, Glendon D. Ascough, John E. Erwin, Johannes Van Staden

Horticultural Science

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Abstract

The role of corm size, light and temperature in flowering of Watsonia species was evaluated to facilitate their commercial production. In addition to exhibiting desirable ornamental attributes, the species selected represented the major climatic regions in South Africa. A day/night temperature regime of 12/7°C released vegetative dormancy in all species and thereafter elicited vernalization in Watsonia pillansii - highlighting an obligate cold requirement for this species. Flowering of Watsonia borbonica and Watsonia tabularis was not enhanced by additional chilling, but rather by long (16h) or day-neutral (12h) photoperiods. Microscopic examination of the shoot apical meristem revealed that extension of the 2nd leaf was a critical stage developmentally, and signified the anatomical transition to flowering. Late-development temperatures to a maximum of 25°C ensured healthy vegetative growth and supported the maturation of the inflorescence and the opening of floret buds. Irradiance did not affect flower induction, but a minimum light intensity of 150μmolm^-2s^-1 proved essential in sustaining the energetic demands of the competitive growth and reproductive processes. Excessively high irradiance (950μmolm^-2s^-1) impacted negatively on attractiveness through increased bud blasting. Flowering success was not correlated to corm mass, but rather to the environment under which the corm was stored, or the conditions under which the plant was grown. Understanding the phenology of these species in situ and the link between flowering and season provide a useful tool for predicting the artificial requirements necessary to elicit optimal flowering under industry conditions.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	493-502
Number of pages	10
Journal	Scientia Horticulturae
Volume	129
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2011.04.004
State	Published - Jun 27 2011

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the National Research Foundation, Pretoria, the University of Minnesota Agriculture Experiment Station and the Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Foundation for financial assistance. A postdoctoral bursary from the Claude Leon Foundation to GD Ascough is gratefully acknowledged. Mrs. Allison Young, horticulturalist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Botanic Gardens, is thanked for her tireless operational support.

Keywords

Competence
Domestication
Flower initiation
Iridaceae
Phenology
Vernalization

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "Flowering control in Watsonia: Effects of corm size, temperature, photoperiod and irradiance",

abstract = "The role of corm size, light and temperature in flowering of Watsonia species was evaluated to facilitate their commercial production. In addition to exhibiting desirable ornamental attributes, the species selected represented the major climatic regions in South Africa. A day/night temperature regime of 12/7°C released vegetative dormancy in all species and thereafter elicited vernalization in Watsonia pillansii - highlighting an obligate cold requirement for this species. Flowering of Watsonia borbonica and Watsonia tabularis was not enhanced by additional chilling, but rather by long (16h) or day-neutral (12h) photoperiods. Microscopic examination of the shoot apical meristem revealed that extension of the 2nd leaf was a critical stage developmentally, and signified the anatomical transition to flowering. Late-development temperatures to a maximum of 25°C ensured healthy vegetative growth and supported the maturation of the inflorescence and the opening of floret buds. Irradiance did not affect flower induction, but a minimum light intensity of 150μmolm-2s-1 proved essential in sustaining the energetic demands of the competitive growth and reproductive processes. Excessively high irradiance (950μmolm-2s-1) impacted negatively on attractiveness through increased bud blasting. Flowering success was not correlated to corm mass, but rather to the environment under which the corm was stored, or the conditions under which the plant was grown. Understanding the phenology of these species in situ and the link between flowering and season provide a useful tool for predicting the artificial requirements necessary to elicit optimal flowering under industry conditions.",

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Flowering control in Watsonia: Effects of corm size, temperature, photoperiod and irradiance

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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