WINTER PRODUCTION OF SNAPDRAGON (Antirrhinum majus L.) IN THE VALLEY OF MÉXICO

Abstract

Growth and commercial quality of four snapdragon cultivars (Antirrhinum majus L.) from Group I (‘Flamingo’, ‘Yosemite Pink’, ‘White-Ivory’ and ‘EuroRose’) and two from Group IV (‘Rose’ and ‘White’), were evaluated under glass greenhouse conditions during the Winter of 2004, in Montecillo, México. Results showed that the flowering stems of Group IV were 24 % heavier and 8 % longer than those from Group I, so that the Group IV reached a higher quality index (0.68 g cm^-1) than Group I (0.53 g cm^-1). Moreover, when flower quality was assessed according to the Society of the American Florists standards, all the flowering stems produced by Group IV reached the "Special" quality standard which is the highest possible classification for a cut snapdragon stem; while about 66.5 % of the flowering stems produced by Group I reached this quality. Winter production of high quality flowering shoots of Group IV cultivars in the Valley of México is possible in non-heated greenhouses, although they need 25 d to reach the commercial harvest stage than Group I.