Cultivation of bedding plants is continuously increasing in Italy and also for this reason the option to amplify the commercialization period, especially in the Mediterranean environment, is interesting. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the possibility to extend the production season and to use different thermal-unit methods for predicting different cultivation phase and the flowering time. Two species of bedding plants (Catharanthus roseus ‘Carmine Red’ and Tagetes erecta ‘Perfection’) were compared at 12 sowing dates for 12 months, started from March 2004 until February 2005. Plantlets were potted after the development of two-three true leaves and cultivated according to the standard procedures. Emergency and timing of transplanting, first visible bud and anthesis of 1st flower were recorded. Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area, n° of flowers, flower diameter were also measured. Mean daily temperature were registered and used to calculate, through thermal unit methods, the thermal data for each phenophase. During the experimental period, great differences were found for the ten-day mean air temperature and the ten-day mean daily radiations. The length of growing cycle was strongly modified in both species in relation to the photo-thermal conditions. In Catharanthus the length of growing cycle ranged between 49 (sowing in June) and 164 days (sowing in November); in Tagetes these values ranged between 51 (sowing in September) and 101 days (sowing in November). Growth parameters were also deeply influenced by the different cultivation cycles, especially in Catharanthus. The extension of the sowing dates permits a very long period of commercialization mainly in Tagetes. The results indicated that the thermal-unit methods were more efficient than the calendar day method, and suggested that a relatively simple temperature-time scale could adequately predict the flowering date.

The scheduling of bedding plant production in Mediterranean environment

ROMANO, Daniela Maura Maria
2009-01-01

Abstract

Cultivation of bedding plants is continuously increasing in Italy and also for this reason the option to amplify the commercialization period, especially in the Mediterranean environment, is interesting. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the possibility to extend the production season and to use different thermal-unit methods for predicting different cultivation phase and the flowering time. Two species of bedding plants (Catharanthus roseus ‘Carmine Red’ and Tagetes erecta ‘Perfection’) were compared at 12 sowing dates for 12 months, started from March 2004 until February 2005. Plantlets were potted after the development of two-three true leaves and cultivated according to the standard procedures. Emergency and timing of transplanting, first visible bud and anthesis of 1st flower were recorded. Growth parameters like plant height, leaf area, n° of flowers, flower diameter were also measured. Mean daily temperature were registered and used to calculate, through thermal unit methods, the thermal data for each phenophase. During the experimental period, great differences were found for the ten-day mean air temperature and the ten-day mean daily radiations. The length of growing cycle was strongly modified in both species in relation to the photo-thermal conditions. In Catharanthus the length of growing cycle ranged between 49 (sowing in June) and 164 days (sowing in November); in Tagetes these values ranged between 51 (sowing in September) and 101 days (sowing in November). Growth parameters were also deeply influenced by the different cultivation cycles, especially in Catharanthus. The extension of the sowing dates permits a very long period of commercialization mainly in Tagetes. The results indicated that the thermal-unit methods were more efficient than the calendar day method, and suggested that a relatively simple temperature-time scale could adequately predict the flowering date.
2009
photo-thermal conditions, thermal units, plant quality, Catharanthus roseus, Tagetes erecta.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Li Rosi et al., 2009.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione Editoriale (PDF)
Licenza: Non specificato
Dimensione 1.41 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
1.41 MB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11769/8152
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 0
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 0
social impact