Temperature effects on shoot growth and flowering of kumquat trees

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of temperature on the shoot growth and flowering of potted kumquat [Fortunella margarita (Lour.) Swingle] trees g rown in s ubtropical c onditions of I -Lan C ounty in T aiwan. T emperature t reatments included T 25-32, T 17-25, T 22, and T 18. The T 25-32 treatment trees were to the day/night temperatures of 25/18°C for 2 weeks, followed by 28 weeks at 32/25°C. T 17-25 was exposed for 4 weeks to 17/10°C followed by 26 weeks at 25/18°C. T 22 and T 18 were exposed at 22/18°C and 18/13°C, respectively, for the entire duration of the experiment. Control trees were placed in a plastic greenhouse under conditions similar to the natural environment. The kumquat trees exposed to high-temperature environment of 32/25°C showed more frequent and speedy sprouting of new buds, but induced the earlier termination of shoot elongation growth, resulting in decreased vegetative growth. The temperature treatments lower than 22°C suppressed the new shoot production but increased the shoot growth period, resulting in increased shoot length and diameter. Temperatures higher than 25/18°C readily induced flowering, with flowering being advanced under the higher temperature conditions such as 32/25°C. However, flowering was substantially inhibited under temperature conditions lower than 22/18°C, indicating the negative role of relatively lower temperatures on flowering of kumquat trees. © 2014 Korean Society for Horticultural Science.