Inflorescence development of flowering and blasted gladiolus plants in relation to development of other plant parts

Abstract

Flower differentiation in Gladiolus × grandiflorus takes place immediately after initation of all the leaves. The prefloral stage was observed in shoots 3–4 mm long and the shoot apex was floral when the first foliage leaf was half extended. Initiation of individual florets continued up to the 7-leaf stage. Flower development is acropetal and continued up to anthesis of each individual floret. Flower blasting generally starts at the tip of the inflorescence and advances towards the base of the flower stalk. Blasting starts as a stoppage in the growth of the inflorescence, the flower stalk and the leaves on the stalk. Later these organs shrivel. Daughter corms fill early as a consequence of blasting.