Quality and Quantity Characteristics of Two Gladiolus Cultivars (Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. White Prosperity and Ruse Supreme)

Document Type : Full Paper

Authors

1 MSc. Student, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Professor, University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

4 Member of the Scientific Board, National Research Center of Ornamental Plants of Iran, Iran

Abstract

Storage conditions influence quality of gladiolus corms which thereby affects quality
of flowers. In the present study, the effects of pre-storage curing and different
temperature conditions on corm germination and various vegetative and reproductive
growth parameters of Gladiolus grandiflorus cv. White Prosperity and Gladiolus
grandiflorus cv. Ruse Supreme were studied. Application of pre-storage curing with one
or two months of cold treatment 50C resulted in the best dormancy release and faster
bolting. These corms produced better plant and cut flower quality. The elongation of
flowering shoot and flowering delayed when the corms stored at 50C for the whole
storage period, but produced good quality cut flowers, showing interruption of
dormancy release. In the other hand, the corms stored during whole storage period at
130C had lower and longer plant emergency and produced lower quality plants and
flowers. This shows that dormancy release was not completed. The corms stored in noncontrolled
temperature room showed growth and production characteristics between
these two categories. The observation and data for both cultivars showed the same
tendency.

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