SYSTEMATIC STRATEGIES OF LILY BULB PRODUCTION AND FORCING IN KOREA

Abstract

In Korea, as the demand for cut flowers continues to increase, the demand for forcing bulbs is also increasing. Lily cut flower production increased to 219 ha with a total export value of $ 26 million in 2007. More than 60% of lily bulbs used for forcing in Korea were largely produced in Gangwon Province and Chungcheongnam province. To supply quality bulbs, small bulblets are propagated by either tissue culture or scaling and planted in a greenhouse using hydroponic systems to produce mid-size bulbs (yearlings), and bulbs for forcing are produced in the field the following year. Lily bulbs are mainly imported from foreign countries at present, and to cover the shortage of lily bulbs for forcing, systematic strategies of lily bulb production have been developed and production of quality bulbs for forcing is now possible. These studies have been conducted at the Dankook University, National Institute of Horticultural & Herbal Science at the Rural Development Administration, and Taean Lily Experiment Station and other local government research institutes, universities, and growers. The systematic production system will be outlined and presented in this paper. However, the future production of disease-free bulbs, lily bulbs long-term cold storage for year-round cut flower production, and forcing environment, and integrated management of insect pests, diseases and physiological disorders are not discussed here.