Lifting time and bulb storage temperature influence Nerine sarniensis flowering time and flower quality

Abstract

Flowering in Nerine sarniensis was manipulated by a combination of lifting dates and storage temperature treatments. Bulbs were lifted in either October (late spring) or December (early summer) then either replanted immediately (control) or stored at 3°C or 30°C for 4 or 8 weeks before replanting. For bulbs that were lifted in October and stored at 30°C for either 4 or 8 weeks, flower bud emergence occurred 27–29 days earlier than bulbs from the control treatment, whereas for those stored at 3°C, flower bud emergence was delayed by up to 23 days. In contrast, for bulbs lifted in December and stored at 30°C, flower buds emerged at a similar time to the control, whereas those stored at 3°C were delayed by up to 41 days. Subsequent development from flower bud emergence to first floret opening was primarily influenced by the prevailing temperature conditions in all treatments, with 92% of the variation being accounted for by soil temperature alone. The proportion of bulbs that flowered was not markedly altered by storage conditions except that it was reduced where bulbs were stored at 3°C for 8 weeks at the December lifting time. Flower quality (stem length, floret number) was not markedly impacted by the treatments used.