Abstract
It is known that chilling of <em>Muscari</em> bulbs is necessary for the growth of the inflorescence stalk and flowering, but not for the growth of leaves. Gibberellic acid (GA) accelerated stem growth and flowering in chilled <em>Muscari</em> bulbs. In the present experiment it was shown that in unchilled derooted <em>Muscari</em> bulbs the growth of leaves, but not the growth of the inflorescence stalk, was observed when bulbs were stored in water, GA at a concentration of 50 and 100 mg/L, benzyladenine (BA) at a concentration of 25 and 50 mg/L, or a mixture of GA+BA (50+25 mg/L), but abscisic acid (ABA) at a concentration of 10 mg/L greatly inhibited the growth of leaves. In chilled derooted <em>Muscari</em> bulbs the growth of leaves and inflorescence stalk was observed when bulbs were stored in water or GA, but BA and GA+BA treatments totally inhibited the growth of the inflorescence stalk without an effect on the growth of leaves. These results clearly showed that the growth of leaves and inflorescence stalk in <em>Muscari</em> bulbs are controlled by plant growth regulators in different ways. ABA totally inhibited the growth of leaves and inflorescence stalk in chilled derooted <em>Muscari</em> bulbs. It was shown that after the excision of the inflorescence bud in cultivated chilled <em>Muscari</em> bulbs, the inflorescence stalk died, but application of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) 0.5% in the place of the removed inflorescence bud induced the growth of the inflorescence stalk. IAA applied under the inflorescence bud inhibited the development of flowers (flower-bud blasting) and induced the growth of the inflorescence stalk below the treatment site. These results are discussed with reference to hormonal regulation of stem (stalk) growth in tulip, narcissus, hyacinth, and <em>Hippeastrum</em>.
Highlights
In early fall, Muscari bulbs with formed inflorescences, leaves and root primordia are planted in the soil where rooting and growth of the leaves a few centimeters above the soil level take place before wintertime
In the chilled derooted Muscari bulbs, the growth of leaves and inflorescence stalk was observed when the bulbs were stored in water (Fig. 2a–c), while Gibberellic acid (GA) partially inhibited the growth of leaves without having an effect on the growth of the inflorescence stalk
In unchilled Muscari bulbs planted in a greenhouse at high temperature, strong growth of leaves took place without the growth of the inflorescence stalk [1]
Summary
Muscari bulbs with formed inflorescences, leaves and root primordia are planted in the soil where rooting and growth of the leaves a few centimeters above the soil level take place before wintertime. It is interesting that in Muscari the growth of leaves starts without the chilling of bulbs; chilling is necessary for the growth and flowering of the inflorescence stalk. Saniewski [1] showed that in unchilled Muscari bulbs planted in a greenhouse at high temperature, strong growth of leaves took place without the growth of the inflorescence stalk. Chilling is necessary for the growth of the inflorescence stalk and flowering. It should be mentioned that the growth of leaves in unchilled Muscari bulbs is greater than of the leaves in chilled
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