Abstract

AUZAQUE-RODRIGUEZ, Orlando; BALAGUERA-LOPEZ, Helber Enrique; ALVAREZ-HERRERA, Javier Giovanni  and  FISCHER, Gerhard. Effect of reused bulb vernalization on lily flower quality (Lilium sp.) in the Bogota Plateau  . Agron. colomb. [online]. 2009, vol.27, n.1, pp.65-71. ISSN 0120-9965.

Lily production has lately acquired great importance in Colombia, but its expansion is limited by the high cost of the bulbs, which are imported, and only produce quality flowers in the first harvest. This determines the constant purchase of new material in order to keep up with the planting programs. However, vernalization of the bulbs that are left after flower cutting allows further production of good quality flowers. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of bulb vernalization on lily flower quality. Applying a completely randomized design, bulbs of Asian hybrid Castello were treated with 10 different combinations of vernalization times (4, 6 and 8 weeks) and temperatures (-2, 3 and 14°C), and compared to a commercial control (imported bulbs). The latter exhibited the best results, followed by the bulbs vernalized at 3°C for 8 weeks, which produced earlier ripening plants that bore less unopened flowers, super *3 buds and a higher percentage of extra quality flowers with longer vase life. These results reveal the importance of vernalization in lily production.

Keywords : vase life; precocity; temperature; storage; flowering.

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