Influence of Temperature and Gibberellins on Growth and Development of Tuberose in Greenhouse

Abstract

In order to advance blooming from autumn to spring and to evaluate the vegetative and reproductive characteristics of tuberose, the forcing culture was carried out in greenhouse by treatments of temperature (ck, 4 °C, and 30 °C) and GA3 (0, 40, and 80 mg·L1)on corms before planting. The results showed that number of days to flower with corms treated at 4 or 30 °C was reduced and the corm sprouting was enhanced significantly in all planting dates. High temperature treatment made more corms sprouting than cold treatment except the Dec planting. Flowering percentage at 4 °C was enhanced in the Dec planting compared with CK (15 °C). Low temperature treatment significantly reduced length of spikes in Oct planting. The number of florets per spike was decreased significantly by the low or high temperature treatments in both Oct and Dec plantings. There was no difference in floret number under different temperatures except Oct plantings. GA3 had no significant effects on flowering duration when corms were planted at the same dates. GA3 had less influence on growth and flowering of Double compared with the temperature treatment. The quality of cutting flowers was decreased in greenhouse compared with local field production. Therefore, the forcing cultivation of tuberose may be performed with Double and no man-forced winter dormancy of corm treated at 4 °C for 30 days or 30 °C for 15 days before planting.