New Flowering Potted Plant Progress Reports - June 2002
ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT
JUNE 2002
Project Title:
New
Flowering Potted Plants
Researcher/Institution
Information:
Jeff S. Kuehny, Louisiana State University, Department of
Horticulture, 137 J.C. Miller Hall, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803 Phone:
225-578-1043 Fax: 225-578-1068 E-mail:
Richard Criley, University of Hawaii, Department of
Horticulture, 3180 Maile Way No. 102, Honalulu, Hawaii 96822-2279 Phone:
803-956-8492 Fax: 803-956-3894 E-mail:
Industry Needs Addressed:
Due to the limited research funds provided, we were unable to
conduct the research for some objectives outlined in the annual progress report
of 1 June 2001. The following objectives were initiated in 2001/2002.
Objective 1. To develop systems to manipulate dormancy in
rhizomes of gingers in order to extend the seasonal availability.
Controlling entry into and termination of dormancy is important in rhizome
production for year around forcing by growers. Although cut gingers are known to
have good postharvest longevity, effects of various production protocols on
growth and development and appropriate stages of development for shipping of
potted gingers are not known. Research was initiated winter 2001 with a second
study in winter 2002. These two studies will benefit producers of propagules by
increasing the number of different types of plants sold and seasonal marketing
period. Greenhouse operators will be able to increase the assortment of plants
they sell to the benefit of the U.S. floral industry and their consumers.
Objective 2. To determine the optimum forcing conditions for
gingers.
The optimum light intensity, day length and air temperature
for forcing ginger will be elucidated so that greenhouse growers can produce a
marketable pot plant to increase their product availability, product assortment
and production efficiency. Research on the effect of light intensity and its
effect on days to emergence, days to flower, plant height and flower quality
using several ginger species was conducted in the winter 2001, and a second
study on the effect of photoperiod and temperature was initiated in the winter
2002.
Research Summary:
Rhizomes of Globba winittii, Curcuma alismatifolia,
C. roscoeana and Kaempferia from Thailand and Hawaii were stored
at the University of Hawaii for 2, 3 and 4 months at 15, 20 or 25 oC.
At the end of the storage period the rhizomes were shipped to Louisiana State
University for forcing, to determine the storage longevity of the rhizomes, the
effect of temperature on the longevity of rhizomes, carbohydrate content and
consequent shoot emergence, growth and flowering, and whether a dormant period
and duration of the dormant period is necessary for inflorescence production. As
storage time and temperature increased, days to emergence and flowering
decreased, up to10 and 8 days respectively, for Globba. Rhizome weight of
Globba was 30% greater the lower the storage temperature. C.
alismatifolia rhizome weight decreased (30%) and emerging shoot length
increased (22mm) at planting (all rhizomes initiated shoots during storage) as
storage temperature and time increased. Days to emergence decreased as storage
temperature increased for C. roscoeana and Kaemperia, 20 and 10
days respectively. Rhizome carbohydrate content of all ginger species varied by
storage time and storage temperature.
A separate study conducted at the University of Hawaii to
determine the impact of brief chilling or heat treatments on sprouting of potted
ginger . C. alismatifolia, C. roscoeana (1 set from Thailand and a
second set produced in Hawaii), Globba winittii ‘Pristina Princess’
and Kaempferia galanga rhizomes were placed in sealed plastic bags and
immersed in hot water (50 oC) for 15 minutes, chilled (5 oC)
for 28 hours or held at room temperature (21 oC, control). Rhizomes
were planted one per container and grown under 50% shade. Globba and C.
roscoeana (Hawaii source) emerged 12 and 11 days earlier than the control
when chilled, and Globba flowered 12 days earlier. The heat treatment
reduced days to emergence by 7 days for C. roscoeana (Hawaii source) and
prevented flowering of C. roscoeana (Thailand source), however the
remaining ginger were unaffected by the heat treatment. Flower stalk length of C.
roscoeana (Hawaii source) was shorter by 13 and 8 cm for the chilled and
heat-treated rhizomes respectively. Days from pot to flower was approximately
100 days for Globba with the cold treated ginger flowering 1 week
earlier. C. roscoeana (Thailand source) flowered approximately 172 days
after potting and C. roscoeana (Hawaii source) after approximately 140
days. C. alismatifolia flowered an average of 109 days after potting for
all treatments.
Another study was conducted at Louisiana State University to
determine optimum forcing conditions. Three Curcuma species were grown in
a greenhouse under 0% (9,500 fc), 30% (5,000 fc) or 60% (1,500 fc) shade and
drenched with paclobutrazol or uniconzole at 0, 10 or 20 mg a.i. per container. Curcuma
spp. ‘Precious Petuma’, C. parviflora ‘White Angel’ and C.
alismatifolia ‘Chiang Mai Pink’ produce marketable flowering pot plants
requiring no application of shade. ‘Precious Petuma’ and ‘White Angel’
can be grown under shade levels up to 60% without jeopardizing plant quality.
‘Chiang Mai Pink’ however, should be grown under full sun and a PGR drench
of 10 mg a.i./pot of uniconazole and over 20 mg a.i./pot of paclobutrazol must
be used for production of a flowering pot plant. If this ginger was to be sold
as a taller patio plant, no PGR is needed. Postproduction longevity of the
flowers of these three ornamental ginger in the greenhouse was excellent, up to
40 days. Therefore these gingers are highly recommended as an alternative
flowering pot plant.
Summary of Published Information:
Paz, M.P. P.C. Branch and J.S. Kuehny. 2001. Effect of light
intensity and PGR application on growth and flowering of ornamental ginger.
Proceedings of Southern Nursery Association Conference. 46:349-352.
Kuehny, J.S. 2001. Zingiberaceae: An exciting family of new
ornamental plants. New Ornamental Crops Research Symposium Program and
Abstracts, Chicago, IL. p. 11.
Kuehny, J.S. 2001. Pot plants and landscape plants from the
Zingiberaceae family. New Crops & New Uses: Strength in Diversity. Program
and Abstracts, Atlanta, GA. p. 41.
Kuehny, J.S., M.J. Sarmiento and P.C. Branch. 2002. Cultural
studies in ornamental ginger. Proceedings of New Crops & New Uses: Strength
in Diversity. XX:XXX-XXX.
J.S. Kuehny, M. J. Sarmiento and P.C. Branch. (In review).
Effect of gibberellic acid and paclobutrazol on flowering of three Curcuma
species. Scientia Hortic. XX:XXX-XXX.
M.J. Sarmiento and J.S. Kuehny. (In review). Growth of
ornamental ginger as affected by photoperiod. Scientia Hortic. XX:XXX-XXX.
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