Abstract
Elephant foot yams (Amorphophallus paeoniifolius (Dennst.) Nicolson) usually produce inflorescences 3-4 years after planting. However, seed production under natural conditions is rare because inflorescences appear at low rates at random times. Therefore, flower induction is necessary for breeding programs. In order to clarify the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) and corm age on the floral induction of elephant foot yam, GA3 was sprayed to dormant three-year-old (1386 g), two-year-old (671 g), and oneyear-old (131 g) corms at concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g l-1. Although the application of GA3 stimulated flower induction in one- and two-year-old corms, there was no difference in flowering percentage between 1 and 2 g 1-1 GA3. Three-year-old corms produced inflorescences without GA3 application, and inflorescences appeared earlier in three-year-old corms than in one-and two-year-old corms. Some abnormalities were found in plants from one-and two-year-old corms. These included inflorescences with twisted or hooked spadix, inflorescences without male or female organs, and inflorescences fused with leaves.
