Effects of Vernalization Duration, Light Intensity during Vernalization and Low Temperature Holding after Vernalization on Flowering of Nobile Dendrobium Hybrids

摘要

Flowering time and flower quality of three nobile dendrobium hybrids in relation to vernalization duration and light intensity during vernalization were studied in the first experiment. Mature Dendrobium Red Emperor 'Prince', Dendrobium Sea Mary 'Snow King', and Dendrobium Love Memory 'Fizz' were cooled at 10 degrees C with 300 to 350 mol?m?2?s?1 photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) (12-h photoperiod) or darkness, each with four cooling durations (2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks). Plants were forced in a greenhouse after vernalization. At least 4 weeks of 10 degrees C cooling in light was needed for flower initiation of Red Emperor 'Prince'; whereas Sea Mary 'Snow King' and Love Memory 'Fizz' only needed 2 weeks of 10 degrees C cooling regardless of light. Darkness during vernalization slightly delayed flowering and resulted in fewer but larger flowers. Longer cooling duration delayed flowering, decreased the flower longevity, and produced larger and more flowers. In the second experiment, Love Memory 'Fizz' were cooled at 15 degrees C for 4 weeks with PPF of 0, 50, 100, or 200 mol?m?2?s?1 (12-h photoperiod). Compared to 200 mol?m?2?s?1, low PPF of 50 or 100 mol?m?2?s?1 did not affect flowering time or flower quality; however, darkness delayed flowering and reduced flower quality. The third experiment was aimed at developing a strategy to defer flowering of nobile dendrobium orchids by holding them under low temperature. Mature Den. Red Emperor 'Prince' and Den. Sea Mary 'Snow King' were held at 10 degrees C for various durations (0, 4, 8, 12 or 16 weeks) after vernalization (4 weeks at 10 degrees C). Plants were forced in a greenhouse after holding. Time to flowering, flower differentiation and flower quality were determined. Increase of low temperature holding duration from 0 to 16 weeks extended time to flowering up to 3 months and did not affect parameters of flower except producing larger flowers and reducing flower number per flowering node for Den. Red Emperor 'Prince'. Notably, the flower longevity was not adversely affected. Defoliation was aggravated in Den. Red Emperor 'Prince' by longer duration of cooling and was considered a detrimental effect of low temperature holding.