Method and Timing of Tuber De-eyeing Affects Growth and Development of Caladium

Abstract

Before being forced as potted plants, tubers of two Caladium ×hortulanum Birdsey cultivars were subjected to different methods of de-eyeing (terminal bud removal), either before or after 6 weeks of curing and storage. The cultivar Frieda Hemple (`FH'), a type with numerous buds that does not require de-eyeing, was less affected by deeyeing than `Fannie Munson' ('FM'), which has a single dominant bud and requires deeyeing. De-eyeing had little effect on `FH' development. For `FM', regardless of the time of de-eyeing, all treatments reduced height, increased the number of leaves, increased total leaf area, and reduced mean leaf area when compared to intact tubers. However, as the size of the tuber piece removed during de-eyeing increased, the variability within each treatment increased. Based on the results of this research, the best method of de-eyeing would be to destroy or remove the dominant terminal bud while removing as little of the surrounding tissue as possible. The time of de-eyeing can depend on producer preference, since the time of de-eyeing did not affect development significantly.