GROWTH AND STEM QUALITY OF FREESIA X HYBRIDA UNDER HYDROPONICS

Abstract

Freesia (Freesia x hybrida) is a high-potential cut-flower, but it is almost unknown in México. It tolerates low temperatures and forms flowers in a wide range of colors with a delicate scent. This research evaluated the effect of Steiner solution concentration on growth and flower stem quality of Freesia x hybrida cv. ‘Patio’ grown in the Valley of México. Plants were derived from 2.5 diameter corms, under hydroponics and 85 %, red shade netting during the Winter season. The experimental design was a factorial combination of four Steiner solution concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100 %) and two planting dates (September 22nd and October 18th. 2010), under a completely random design. The 100 % Steiner solution (SN) produced the lowest values in plant height (49 cm), floral stem length (37 cm), leaf area per plant (170 cm²), SPAD readings (62), spike length (8.5 cm), number of flowers per stem (8), stem thickness (3.6 mm), and in stem, leaf and total dry weight; while the 25 % SN produced the highest values in plant height (59.4 cm), SPAD readings (71.7), floral stem length (61 cm), spike length (11 cm), number of flowers per stem (12), stem thickness (5.0 mm) and flower vessel life (12 d). Neither the number of leaves per plant nor the root dry weight were different among treatments. The maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II (Fm/Fv) was similar in all treatments (P > 0.05), in both planting dates, with an average of 0.81.