2015 Volume 14 Issue 3 Pages 261-266
This study investigated the effects of the air temperature at different shoot developmental stages on the occurrence of abnormal inflorescence (OAI) in Gypsophila paniculata ‘Altair’. The proportion of OAI decreased in plants which had attained a shoot length of 20 cm when heated at 15°C for 2 weeks, similarly to those heated for 8 weeks. Short-term heating (15°C/2 weeks) resulted in heavier and longer cut flowers than long-term heating (15°C/8 weeks). Heating from vegetative growth to sepal differentiation on the terminal floret (shoot length = 1~20 cm) was the most effective way to prevent OAI. We investigated the effects of low temperature treatment (7°C) at different shoot developmental stages on OAI. Consistent with the effect of heating, the stage from vegetative growth to sepal differentiation at the terminal floret was the most sensitive to the low temperature, enhancing OAI. We conclude that by avoiding exposure of the terminal floret (shoot length = 1~20 cm) to a low temperature at the stage between vegetative growth and sepal differentiation, we could prevent OAI and improve the quality of cut flowers.
