FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF EVALUATING THE ORNAMENTAL QUALITIES IN SMALL BULBOUS PLANTS USING CROCUSES AS AN EXAMPLE

Abstract

The issues of introduction, study, reproduction, and of use the group of small bulbous plants in landscaping are dealt with in many scientific and educational institutions. Research is being carried out using various methods, but there is no methodology for variety study of small-bulbous crops with the purpose to use them in landscaping. The purpose of this work was to study crocus varieties and assess their ornamental qualities using the developed methodology of small bulbous plants study for their use in landscaping. In the years 2016–2020, the research was conducted with open-ground bulbous plants of the collection belonging to the Floriculture Department of the Subtropical Scientific Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences and growing on the experimental plots in Razdolnoye village (Sochi). The objects of research were 16 crocus varieties. As a result of the research carried out, the following varieties with high ornamental qualities were identified from crocus collection: ‘Fuscotinctus’ (57), ‘Miss Vain’ (58), ‘Yellow’ (58), ‘Flower Record’ (58), ‘Remembrance’ (59). The variety groups were revealed by flowering terms: very early, which begin to flower in late January — early February for ‘Fuscotinctus’ and ‘Miss Vain’; early (from the second ten-day period of February) for ‘Romance’, ‘Blue Pearl’ and others; middle (from the third ten-day period of February) for ‘Flower Record’, ‘King of the Striped’ and others. Cultivars recorded with a flowering period of 30 days or more are: ‘Blue Pearl’, ‘Miss Vain’, ‘Yellow’, ‘Fuscotinctus’ and ‘Romance’. The study carried out with crocus collection of the Floriculture Department showed that all varieties have high ornamental qualities, are resistant to biotic factors and can be used in landscaping. As for the data on terms and duration of phenological phases, they can be used in landscape designing.