Periodicity of growth in the Alstroemeria cultivars 'Campfire', 'Red Sunset' and 'Zebra'

Abstract

Similar cycles of periodicity in shoot growth and development are recognizable in all three cultivars, despite the existence of quantitative differences. With a September planting, the first flowers were initiated in February or March and the production and extension of shoots was rapid until May. In May, emergence of shoots was inhibited for about 2 weeks in 'Campfire', 4 weeks in 'Red Sunset' and over 2 months in 'Zebra'. After this dormancy, a second flush of flowering shoots was produced. Flower initiation was progressively delayed in successive shoots until August. 'Campfire' produced vegetative shoots until November, but in 'Red Sunset', the vegetative phase was confined to shoots growing from branch rhizomes. When flower initiation was resumed, many of the shoots produced during the non-inductive phase initiated weak inflorescences, most of which aborted. © 1984.