STORAGE-TEMPERATURE AND DURATION AFFECT FLOWER BUD DEVELOPMENT, SHOOTEMERGENCE, AND FLOWERING OF LEUCOCORYNE COQUIMBENSIS F PHIL

Leucocoryne, a native to Chile, has violet, blue, or white flowers and is increasing in popularity as a cut flower. The effects of storage t emperature and duration on newer bud development, shoot emergence, and anthesis were investigated. Bulbs stored at 20 to 30 degrees C for 22 weeks produced 3.4 flower stems per bulb between March and April. Bul bs stored at 20 degrees C flowered earliest, followed by those stored at 25 degrees C. Bulbs stored at 30 degrees C flowered last. After 16 weeks of storage at 20 degrees C, a further 2 weeks dry storage at 15 degrees C before planting resulted in 1 month earlier flowering with n o reduction of the number of flowering stems. As dry storage at 20 deg rees C increased to 11 months, the time to emergence and flowering dec reased. After dry storage at 20 degrees C for 12 months, the primary f lower stems aborted and secondary stems then developed. Secondary and tertiary flower stems tend to commence flower bud development after th e flower bud on the primary flower stem has reached the gynoeciun or a nther and ovule stage of initiation.