Articles
Do recently released cultivars of Ranunculus and Anemone still need vernalization?
Article number
1435_30
Pages
227 – 234
Language
English
Abstract
It is well known that spring bulb species require a vernalization period to flower.
For some species, such as Ranunculus asiaticus and Anemone coronaria, vernalization is facultative but does improve and/or hasten flowering.
However, these observations are mainly based on cultivars that are no longer very popular.
We thus initiated a study to identify the best combination of temperature (5, 7 and 10°C) and duration (15, 30, 45 and 60) of vernalization for different Italian cultivars of Ranunculus and Anemone, to optimize the timing of flowering but also total flower yield.
A second series of tests with a subset of 3 vernalization treatments was run the second year. Ranunculus cultivars initiated growth during vernalization, and lower temperature did not affect their emergence rate.
In contrast, the emergence of both Anemone cultivars was negatively affected by the lower vernalization temperatures.
The tested vernalization temperatures did not hasten flowering in either Anemone or Ranunculus cultivars.
However, a slight advancement in flowering was observed with the longer vernalization durations, albeit resulting in a reduced number of flowers and flowers of lower quality.
As both species can grow under cool temperature, one can wonder if vernalization is really required prior to planting.
More thorough studies are needed to improve our understanding of the environmental cues that trigger flowering in Ranunculus and especially in Anemone for which very little scientific information is currently available.
For some species, such as Ranunculus asiaticus and Anemone coronaria, vernalization is facultative but does improve and/or hasten flowering.
However, these observations are mainly based on cultivars that are no longer very popular.
We thus initiated a study to identify the best combination of temperature (5, 7 and 10°C) and duration (15, 30, 45 and 60) of vernalization for different Italian cultivars of Ranunculus and Anemone, to optimize the timing of flowering but also total flower yield.
A second series of tests with a subset of 3 vernalization treatments was run the second year. Ranunculus cultivars initiated growth during vernalization, and lower temperature did not affect their emergence rate.
In contrast, the emergence of both Anemone cultivars was negatively affected by the lower vernalization temperatures.
The tested vernalization temperatures did not hasten flowering in either Anemone or Ranunculus cultivars.
However, a slight advancement in flowering was observed with the longer vernalization durations, albeit resulting in a reduced number of flowers and flowers of lower quality.
As both species can grow under cool temperature, one can wonder if vernalization is really required prior to planting.
More thorough studies are needed to improve our understanding of the environmental cues that trigger flowering in Ranunculus and especially in Anemone for which very little scientific information is currently available.
Authors
S. Benchaa, L. Lapointe
Keywords
geophytes, Ranunculaceae, temperature, cold exposure, flowering, marketable flowers
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