THE EFFECTS OF WARM STORAGE ON THE GROWTH AND FLOWERING OF LILIUM LONGIFLORUM (THUNB.) ‘ACE’

The interpretation and interrelationships of vernalization, devernalization, non-vernalization, photoperiod, heat effect are discussed.
Vernalization is necessary for flowering and the longer the vernalization period the shorter the forcing time, but the less the number of leaves and flowers.
Temperatures above 21°C before flower induction will cause devernalization.
Temperatures above 21°C are also non-vernalizing.
Photoperiod can modify the vernalization period.
The heat effect is described as warm temperatures given to lily bulbs before flower induction (which can also be devernalizing), causing more rapid (more than a 4.5°C treatment) shoot elongation and leaf initiation.
This phenomenon is revealed by more leaves and flowers compared to normal commercial procedures.

The aim of working with any commercial flower crop is first to be able to control flowering and then to control quality.
The Easter lily Lilium longiflorum has been one of the more difficult crops to discover this control.
As would be suspected, there are a number of related factors involved.
In this paper an explanation is proposed of how these various phenomena work together to produce a quality flowering plant.

I International Symposium on Flowerbulbs

R.W. Langhans, T.C. Weiler

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1971.23.8