The Influence of Bulb Storage Regimes on the Growth and Flowering of Hippeastrum (Hippeastrum hybridum Hort.)

Abstract

    Hippeastrum hybridum cultivar ‘Cam Tu' bulbs were subjected to ten different treatment regimens to evaluate the effect of temperature (4°C or 25°C), duration (4, 6, or 8 weeks), and wrapping materials (coir fiber or newspaper) on their growth and flowering. The data revealed that the storage treatments had significant effects on several growth and flowering characteristics of H. hybridum cv. ‘Cam Tu'. In terms of vegetative characteristics, bulbs stored at 4°C with coir fiber wrapping for 6 weeks (T9) had the largest leaf size (a length of 39.46 cm, a width of 4.39 cm), the longest flower scape (48.64 cm in length), and the longest pedicel (4.75 cm in length). Bulbs of the T9 treatment also showed the shortest time to flower bud emergence (62.24 days) and first flower opening (80.43 days), and the date of 70% first flower fully opening was January 19, 2018. Both of the two thermal treatment regimens shortened flowering time (80.43-103.16 days) compared to the control (132.46 days). However, the number of bulblets per plant, number of leaves per plant, number of florets per scape, floret diameter, longevity of a flower, and longevity of a flower scape were not statistically impacted by the treatments.