GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF AQUILEGIA IN RELATION TO TEMPERATURE, PHOTOPERIOD AND DRY SEED VERNALIZATION

A selected genome pool of commercial cultivars and genetic lines of Aq uilegia x hybrida were grown in greenhouses and evaluated for their gr owth and flowering responses to temperature, photoperiod and dry seed vernalization. 'Blue Shades', 'Pink Shades', 'Blue-White', 'Rose-White ' and 'White' flowered 4-5 months from sowing when grown at 9-13 degre es C night temperature. Day temperatures of 16-19 degrees C induced ea rlier flowering than day temperatures >24 degrees C. Commercial cultiv ars 'Blue Jay', 'Dove', 'Musik-Blue-White' and 'Musik-Red-White' did n ot flower during these studies. Higher crown number per plant was corr elated with lower day temperatures. Dry seed vernalization at 4 degree s C induced slightly earlier flowering in 'Blue-White' and 'Rose-White '. Extending the photoperiod to 14 h in the early phases of the growth cycle delayed flowering. Certain genetic lints of aquilegia may be su itable for spring forcing if the seed is vernalized and plants are gro wn at night temperatures of 9-13 degrees C. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.