GROWTH RESPONSES OF SPATHIPHYLLUM CULTIVARS TO ELEVATED PRODUCTION TEMPERATURES

Containerized Spathiphyllum often experiences temperatures exceeding 30 °C for extended time periods during the production cycle. Growers have reported that elevated temperatures result in narrower leaves and increased production time. This study monitored the growth of two Spathiphyllum cultivars, ‘Petite’ and ‘Tasson’, under three different temperature regimes, 29, 35 and 41 °C, for 12 hours daily, and nightly temperatures of 21 °C for 12 weeks. Narrower leaves developed in the two cultivars at temperatures above 29 °C, and growth rates decreased with each 6 °C rise in temperature.
An additional study on growth responses of eight Spathiphyllum cultivars to a 1.5-hour exposure to temperatures of 40, 45, and 50 °C revealed that growth indices significantly decreased at 45 °C with the exception of two cultivars, ‘UF474-1’ and ‘UF576-14’, whose growth was unaffected, suggesting that genetic variation to heat tolerance exists among cultivars. Thus, a solution to the heat sensitivity problem in Spathiphyllum production could be to develop and use heat tolerant cultivars.

XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization

D.B. McConnell, J. Chen, R.J. Henny, S.V. Pennisi, M.E. Kane

leaf development, heat tolerance, ornamental foliage plants, peace lily

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2003.620.33