2019 Volume 31 Issue 4 Pages 210-215
We compared the effects of intermittent low temperature storage and short day treatment on the growth, flowering, and plant form of Begonia X hiemalis Fotsch. ‘Netia’ during forcing culture targeting the harvesting of flowers in mid-September and mid-October. Intermittent low temperature storage was conducted using young potted plants and comprising four cycles of 4-days refrigeration at 10 ℃ in the dark followed by 3-4 days in greenhouse conditions. Short day treatment was conducted by shading of the whole cultivation space from 15:00 to 19:15 for 14 days. When intermittent low temperature storage and short day treatment were applied about 2.5 and 1.5 months before the targeted flowering time, respectively, the plants from the treatments flowered successfully. The ratios of plant height and plant diameter to pot height in forcing culture aiming for flowering in mid-September were 1.55 and 2.32 after intermittent low temperature storage and 1.94 and 2.70 after short day treatment, respectively. Those in forcing culture aiming for flowering in mid-October were 2.07 and 2.81 after intermittent treatment low temperature storage and 2.55 and 2.90 after short day treatment, respectively. It was shown that both ratios were improved by intermittent low temperature storage for both growth timeframes. These results showed that growers can adjust flowering schedule and produce high-quality potted flowers of Begonia X hiemalis Fotsch. ‘Netia’ by applying intermittent low temperature storage.
