Commercial Flower Production Research Articles

Nutrition for commercial flower production of Longiflorum asiatica (LA) hybrid under northern plains

The study was conducted during the winter seasons, comprising the various combinations of inorganic fertilizers (N, P2O5, and K2O) and organic manure (FYM). Treatment T24 [(25 t FYM+160 kg N+120 kg P2O5+100 kg K2O)/ha] emerged as the statistically significant treatment, outperforming others in respect of tallest plant (122.43 cm), leaf count per plant (79.33), leaf length (7.90 cm), and early flower bud initiation (28.01 days), bud initiation to colour shown (47.11 days), and colour shown to flower opening (6.10 days). This treatment also tended to show the longest flower retention on plant (15.30 days), number of flower buds per plant (4.20), bud length (8.96 cm), stalk length (110.10 cm), stalk diameter (0.96 cm), flower diameter (22.98 cm), total chlorophyll content (6.50 mg/g), leaf nitrogen (4.70%), potassium (4.10%), and net assimilation ratio (NAR) (0.0065 mg/cm2/ day). Treatment T23 [(25 t FYM+120 kg N+90 kg P2O5+75 kg K2O)/ha] proved next best treatment. The lowest value was recorded in T25 (Control). Overall, treatment T24 proved to be the most effective treatment statistically for the commercial flower production of LA hybrid lilium for northern Indian plains.

Regulation of commercial flower production of marigold in Bundelkhand region by manipulating planting time

Regulation of commercial flower production of marigold in Bundelkhand region by manipulating planting time

Phosphorus and potassium nutrition of a tropical waterlily (Nymphaea) used for commercial flower production

Background and aimsWaterlilies (Nymphaea spp) are ancient iconic plants. Scientific knowledge of their nutrient requirements is scarce. We investigated plant responses to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) nutrition in a cultivar of tropical waterlilies used for commercial flower production.MethodsTwo studies with waterlilies were conducted simultaneously over 24 weeks. In Experiment 1, three amounts of fertiliser differing in P content were supplied either four, six or 12 times. Experiment 2 was similar, but fertiliser varied in K content. Flower production was recorded every two weeks, detailed plant measurements were made every six weeks and leaves were collected for nutrient analyses at week 20. At week 24, shoot biomass was harvested and weighed.ResultsTotal flower production increased with increasing P supply but decreased with increasing K supply. With increasing P supply, leaf P concentration increased from 1.3 to 2.0 mg g−1 dry weight. Increasing the K supply decreased leaf P concentration but had no effect on K concentration. In the P experiment, leaf calcium and magnesium concentrations were generally low as was the leaf zinc concentration. Final plant size increased with increasing P supply but declined with increasing K supply.ConclusionWaterlily growth and flowering declined with increasing K supply and increased with increasing P supply. Fertiliser-P requirement was very high, and it is possible that plants would have responded to greater amounts of P than we used. This was partly due to the very high P-sorbing capacity of the soil we used. Inefficient nutrient uptake owing to the low capacity for P acquisition of waterlily roots at the near-neutral pH of flooded soil was also a likely factor.

Evaluation of Bird of Paradise for Commercial Flower Production by using Organic Manures

Evaluation of Bird of Paradise for Commercial Flower Production by using Organic Manures

Efecto de dos sistemas de cosecha de la caña de azúcar sobre la calidad del suelo en el Cantón Milagros Ecuador

Basic aspects of yield and production of ornamental horticulture are unknown in Tabasco, Mexico. Therefore, this study aim to evaluate the production of Red and Pink Ginger ( Alpinia purpurata ) flowers in the municipalities of Comalcalco, Centro and Teapa, Tabasco. The production was evaluated in six clumps per variety and per planting on each municipality. Quantitative production traits for flowers, commercial stems and clumps were assessed every two weeks for one year. Comalcalco had the highest production of Red and Pink Ginger stems and flowers per clump with 48.2 Red and 24.7 Pink commercial flowers. Both varieties concentrated about 23% of the commercial flower production in May. In Centro, Red and Pink Ginger commercial flowers were 11.9 and 12.5 per clump with 42.0% and 34.7% concentrated in May. In Teapa, the production of Red Ginger commercial flowers was 10.6 per clump per year with 34.8% of the production recorded in June.

Production of Red and Pink Ginger [ Alpinia purpurata (Viell.) K. Schum] in three municipalities of Tabasco, Mexico

Basic aspects of yield and production of ornamental horticulture are unknown in Tabasco, Mexico. Therefore, this study aim to evaluate the production of Red and Pink Ginger (Alpinia purpurata) flowers in the municipalities of Comalcalco, Centro and Teapa, Tabasco. The production was evaluated in six clumps per variety and per planting on each municipality. Quantitative production traits for flowers, commercial stems and clumps were assessed every two weeks for one year. Comalcalco had the highest production of Red and Pink Ginger stems and flowers per clump with 48.2 Red and 24.7 Pink commercial flowers. Both varieties concentrated about 23% of the commercial flower production in May. In Centro, Red and Pink Ginger commercial flowers were 11.9 and 12.5 per clump with 42.0% and 34.7% concentrated in May. In Teapa, the production of Red Ginger commercial flowers was 10.6 per clump per year with 34.8% of the production recorded in June.

Database for Herbaceous Peony Cultivated in Warm Climate Regions: Effects of Temperature on Plant Dormancy and Growth

This article introduces the first database for developmental parameters of the herbaceous peony cultivated in a warm climate region. Data on the effect of temperature during dormancy and growth parameters are presented for 2,232 plants of two commercial cultivars exposed to 14 different temperature regimes: 15-18 dates of dormancy release for each regime and 10 weekly measurements of 6 growth parameters for each plant. Diversity of developmental response was examined with a Tukey test. The efficacy of the database for the regulation of the developmental processes and production ability is demonstrated with numerous examples of estimated growth rate of stems. The sigmoid nature of the growth curves is noted. The database could be used for research on plant physiology of peony and other geophytes, as well as for the prediction of effective commercial flower production. The database is available at http://www.mop-zafon.org.il/files/DB18_Sept_2014.xlsx.

Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) Inoculation on Growth and Flowering in Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees

Commercially important ornamental flowering plant Crossandra infundibuliformis (L.) Nees. commonly known as ‘Fire cracker’ plant was evaluated for the possible effects of inoculation of different Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungal species on growth, yield, flower quality, and phosphorus (P) nutrition. Five pure cultures of AM species, Acaulospora laevis, A. scrobiculata, Glomus coremioides, G. intraradices and Gigaspora albida and an un-inoculated control were used. Mycorrhizal inoculation showed positive effect on plant height, early flowering, increased flower number, increased flower weight, reduced fresh weight loss over 24 h, increased leaf P concentration, and increased total dry weight compared to un-inoculated control. The studies indicate mycorrhizal inoculation can enhance commercial flower production of this plant. Glomus intraradices proved to be the most efficient AM fungal bioinoculant and thus have the potential to enhance commercial flower production of this plant.

Indução de embriões somáticos a partir de embriões zigóticos de Heliconia bihai (L.) L. cv. Lobster Claw Two

As flores tropicais têm contribuído para o aumento do mercado florístico no Brasil; dentre elas destacam-se as do gênero Heliconia. A propagação de helicônias que atinge maior número de mudas ocorre por via vegetativa, por meio da divisão de rizomas, aumentando a probabilidade de disseminação de doenças, podendo, num futuro próximo, comprometer a produção de flores. O cultivo in vitro surge como importante alternativa para proporcionar a produção de mudas de helicônia com elevado padrão de qualidade. Entretanto, a micropropagação de helicônias via ápices caulinares depara-se com problemas de contaminação endofítica, dificultando a multiplicação do explante. Diante disso, fez-se necessário avaliar alternativas que promovam a produção de mudas in vitro, por meio da utilização de outros explantes. Para tanto, realizou-se um experimento, utilizando embriões zigóticos, provenientes de frutos imaturos e maduros de H. bihai (L.) L. cv. Lobster Claw Two, em combinações de AIA (0; 5,70 e 11,41 µm L-1) e 2,4-D (0; 22,62; 45,24; 67,86 e 90,48 µm L-1), para induzir a formação de embriões somáticos durante 90 dias. Por meio de análise histológica, observou-se a formação de embriões somáticos apenas nos embriões zigóticos, provenientes de frutos maduros, cultivados na ausência de reguladores de crescimento.

BULB AND INFLORESCENCE DEVELOPMENT IN NERINE SARNIENSIS

Nerine is an autumn flowering perennial bulbous plant native to southern Africa belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. Irregular flowering is often encountered in commercial flower production. The annual life cycle ofNerine sarniensisis characterized by flowering in autumn prior to leaf emergence, active leaf growth during winter and early spring, followed by leaf senescence and a rest period during the hot dry summer. The objective of this study was to follow the ontogeny ofN. sarniensiscv. ‘Autumn Glory’ with special emphasis on differentiation and development of vegetative and generative apices under outdoor growing conditions in Israel. It was found that leaf development lasted approximately eleven months, with active leaf growth of up to five months, depending on the onset of high temperatures in late spring. For most of the year the bulb contains two inflorescences at different stages of development. Inflorescence development from initiation to anthesis lasted 21–22 months, i.e., active development occurred in the bulb during its rest period. Development was only arrested for approximately two months at the end of summer, just prior to flowering.

Frequency of micronuclei in lymphocytes from a group of floriculturists exposed to pesticides.

A large part of the commercial flower production in Italy is located in the located in the western part of the Liguria region, near the French border. The use of pesticides in this area has been much higher than the national average. The frequency of micronuclei in peripheral blood lymphocytes was evaluated in a group of 71 floriculturists working in this area and in a control group of 75 healthy blood donors living in the same area. A significant increase of micronucleated lymphocytes was observed in floriculturists as compared to unexposed subjects (8.57 vs. 6.67, p < .05). Females showed a marked increase in MN frequency (45% higher than males) independently of the exposure. A dose-response relationship was observed between duration of exposure and MN frequency. The condition of exposure was also found to influence the micronuclei frequency. Increased relative risks in greenhouse workers (RR = 1.31) and in people working alternately in the greenhouse and in the open field (RR = 1.46) was observed with respect to the reference population.

Formation of the Japanese Floriculture in Northern California

Japanese immigrant agriculturists on the west coast of the United States in the pre-World War II period enjoyed a highly competitive position with their small but labor intensive operations even under social conditions that often discouraged their activities. One of the biggest factors in their competitive success in agriculture was their organizational effectiveness. Ethnic solidarity was maintained by first generation immigrants of most ethnic backgrounds both in fraternal and economic activities and they tended to cluster geographically and by occupation. But the Japanese agriculturists developed especially tight and efficient organizations to meet special needs and to protect themselves in this new and unaccustomed environment.The present paper describes and analyzes the development of Japanese floriculture in the San Francisco Bay Area from its beginnings in the late nineteenth century to the World War II relocation of the Japanese, with special emphasis on grower organizations as a key factor in their success.The early pioneering efforts and success of the immigrants, who were mostly of rural background, invited the participation of other Japanese in commercial flower production. The mild climatic conditions of the Bay Area, especially the absense of temperature extremes, were favorable for cut flower production, and the rapidly growing population created an increasing demand. Although two other ethnic groups, Italians and Chinese, were already in the business when the Japanese first started to grow flowers commercially, the industry itself was not fully organized. The Japanese thus moved into a niche that was waiting to be filled.In the early period the Japanese flower growers were mainly located in the East Bay region, producing carnations, roses and chrysanthemums in greenhouses. Marketing of flowers was undertaken on an individual basis, peddling them from wicker or bamboo baskets carried on the back or by opening flower stands on busy streets, which was generally inefficient and time consuming. As the number of growers increased and production expanded, intense competition developed among them. Gradually they became aware of a need for their own trade organization and marketing facility.