Effects of corm size and storage period on allocation

Abstract

In order to correlate corm size and storage period of corms to allocation of assimilates in different parts of the plant an experiment was conducted during growth period of 2004 and 2005 in Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. Treatments were four groups of corm size (3-6, 6-9, 9-12 and 12-15 g) either stored for a period of time before planting or sown directly without storage. Experiment was conducted in a Complete Randomized Block design with three replications. Results indicated that storing corms before planting had a negative effect on number, area, length and width of leaf and also on weight of leaf, weight of main shoot, weight of leaves of lateral shoots and total weight of plant. However, weight of corm, number and weight of lateral shoots and area of lateral leaf was not affected by storing the corms. Nevertheless, in the second year, number, length and weight of leaf on main shoot, number of cormlet, number, area and weight of leaf on lateral shoots, total weight of plant, corm weight, weight of main shoot and weight of lateral buds was reduced while leaf width were not affected. Effect of corm size on almost all measured parameters was positive and with increasing corm weight an increasing trend was observed in the above parameters. No flower was observed on corms which were stored, while corms which planted after lifting produced flowers and Larger corms of 9-12 and 12-15 g were superior in terms of number of flowers per unit area and also weight of flower and stigma per unit area. Corms with 9-15 grams planted immediately after lifting the corms produced higher yield.