Development and dry mass accumulation in callalily at the initial cultivation stage

Daniella Nogueira Moraes Carneiro,Jussara Ellen Morais Frazão,Leandro Flávio Carneiro,Elka Fabiana Aparecida Almeida,Fernanda Helena de Souza Santos,Patrícia Duarte de Oliveira Paiva

doi:10.1590/s1413-70542011000600007

Abstract

The cultivation of the calla lily, despite its importance in the floriculture sector, is still limited due to the lack of knowledge of basic production techniques such as development and dry mass accumulation. These techniques facilitate more appropriate management, especially regarding the application of fertilizers, providing better nutrients utilization and greater yields. Thus, this study was aimed at evaluating the growth and development of calla lily plants, establishing growth curves according to dry mass accumulation. Acclimatized and micropropagated calla lily plantlets were grown in plastic pots containing coconut fiber as a substrate and fertilized with a modified formula of Malavolta. Treatments consisted of assessments at intervals of 30 days for 7 months. The design was in randomized blocks with four replications, in a total of 28 plots. Plants were evaluated by observing their growth characteristics and development of shoots, rhizome, roots, as well as production and flower quality. Development of the plants increased throughout the experimental period, with the maximum dry mass accumulation occurring at the end of the experimental period. Blooming was constant with the length of flower stalks increasing with along with the age of the plant.

Highlights

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is a perennial plant grown for the production of cut flowers, especially for decorative uses
Considering the need of information about this culture and its economic importance, the aim of this study was to evaluate the development of calla lily plants at the initial cultivation stage, establishing growth curves for dry mass accumulation
When analyzing the characteristics related to growth during 7 months of evaluation, significant effects for all variables were observed

Summary

Introduction

Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica) is a perennial plant grown for the production of cut flowers, especially for decorative uses. It is grown mainly in Southeastern Brazil, making the region very important to the industry (ALMEIDA; PAIVA, 2005, LANDGRAF; PAIVA, 2009a, LANDGRAF; PAIVA, 2009b). In Brazil, information about growth throughout the production cycle for the calla lily culture is still lacking. The determination for the adequate supply of nutrients at each culture development stage is based on the study of growth curves and dry mass accumulation, which highlight periods and absorption rates of nutrients by plants, providing basic information about their nutritional needs (PEDROSA, 2000; MALAVOLTA, 2006, VIEIRA et al, 2008).

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