Effect of Pinching Timing and Node Order on Flowering Season and Quality of Veronica ornata Monjuschko as Summer to Autumn Potted Flower

Abstract

To develop potted flower production of Veronica ornata (Plantaginaceae), which is a useful genetic resource endemic to Japan, the effects of pinching season and node order on flowering time and quality were investigated. As the pinching season become later, the flowering become later in the experiment using the potted flower ‘NG-1’. Also, as the pinching season become later, the accumulation of heat units until flowering was decreased. Regarding the potted flower quality at harvest, as the pinching season become later, the node number to flowering and the shoot length were decreased. In the case of a higher pinching position, flowering became earlier, the accumulative temperature to flowering was decreased, and the node number to flowering and shoot length were decreased. Flowering shoots were increased by pinching in all seasons and the node order in this experiment. Blind shoots were also increased by pinching at the end of June or with a low node order. These results indicate that the flowering time and quality can be controlled by means of pinching timing and the node order on potted flower production of V. ornata. Shipping of the potted flowers may be possible in early September for Respect for the Aged Day by means of pinching above 2 or 3 nodes from the base at the end of May.