The Use of N-6-benzyladenine to Regulate Flowering of Phalaenopsis Orchids

Abstract

Phalaenopsis orchid (Phalaenopsis hybrids) is an important potted flower around the world. Programming phalaenopsis to bloom as needed and improving flower quality are important to increasing profitability. Whole plants were sprayed with 70 mg·L−1 N-6-benzyladenine (BA) at dusk on days 1 and 14 after subjecting them to a 26/18 °C treatment. The spiking percentage at week 4 after the start of the 26/18 °C treatment of phalaenopsis Luchia Pink ‘244’ control plants was 58% ± 12% (mean ± se), while 98% ± 4% of the BA-treated plants developed floral spikes. The number of flower spikes in phalaenopsis Luchia Pink ‘244’ and doritaenopsis orchid (Doritaenopsis hybrids) Taisico Firebird ‘OX’ increased from 1 to 1.2 flower spikes per plant and from 1.6 to 2 flower spikes per plant at the end of week 14, respectively. When whole plants were sprayed with 150 mg·L−1 BA at dusk on day 1 of cooling, the number of flower spikes in phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ increased from 1.3 to 2 flower spikes per plant, and the flower count in phalaenopsis Tai Lin Redangel ‘Queen’ increased from 10.4 to 14 flowers at the end of week 20. However, the flower longevity of phalaenopsis Sogo Yukidian ‘V3’ and phalaenopsis Tai Lin Redangel ‘Queen’ was not affected. However, phalaenopsis Luchia Pink ‘244’ sprayed with 70 mg·L−1 BA on days 1 and 14 resulted in deformed flower spikes. It is recommended that 14 to 16 weeks before specific festivals, the phalaenopsis orchids should be put into 26/18 °C and BA treatments (100–150 mg·L−1) at day 1 for commercial phalaenopsis orchids production. However, perhaps BA is not effective for all cultivars.