GROWTH OF EXPLANTS AND PLANTLETS OF LILIES INFLUENCED BY LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE TREATMENTS

In the Netherlands the acreage of lilies, particularly of the mid-century hybrid "Enchantment", has considerably increased during the last few years.
In the culture of lilies the health of the crops is a matter of great concern.
Several lily cultivars are totally infected by lily symptomless virus (LSV). The need to free various cultivars of virus was recognized by several growers, who founded an association expressly for this purpose.

The method used to free lily bulbs of virus consists of holding disinfected pieces of bulb scales on a nutrient medium according to Sheridan until shoots emerge, and then transferring them to another tube provided with Sheridan’s medium.
After a few months the plantlets are planted in soil in pots.

Electron-microscopically, such plantlets appear to be LSV-free to a considerable degree.

To obtain large bulbs it is necessary to stimulate the growth of the plantlets and explants in tubes and pots.
Experimentally, light and temperature proved to be especially important stimulatory factors in this respect.
Continuous high intensity illumination and varying periods at different temperatures appeared to favour the growth of the bulbs.

A manuscript with experimental data has been offered for publication to "Scientia Horticulturae"

II International Symposium on Flower Bulbs

M.H. Bunt, A.J.B. Durieux, C.J. Asjes

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1975.47.8