scholarly journals Prevernalization Daily Light Integral and Vernalization Temperature Influences Flowering of Herbaceous Perennials

HortScience ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 37 (7) ◽  
pp. 1028-1031 ◽  
Author(s):  
Genhua Niu ◽  
Royal Heins ◽  
Arthur Cameron ◽  
William Carlson

The influence of daily light integral (DLI) before vernalization and vernalization temperature and duration on growth and flower development was determined for seed-propagated perennials Aquilegia ×hybrida Sims `Remembrance', Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet `Sunray', and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. `Hidcote Blue'. Seedlings were grown under two DLIs (4 or 14 mol·m-2·d-l) for 5 weeks before being vernalized at -2.5, 0, 2.5, or 5 °C for 2,4,5, or 8 weeks. `Remembrance' and `Sunray' plants were vernalized in the dark, while `Hidcote Blue' plants were vernalized in light at 5 to 10 μmol·m-2·s-l for 9 hourslday. After vernalization, plants were forced under a 16-h photoperiod in the greenhouse at 20±2 °C. `Remembrance' plants flowered uniformly when vernalized at 0 to 2.5 °C for 2 weeks or longer, and flower number, plant height, time to visible bud or to flower were generally not influenced by vernalization temperature or duration. No `Sunray' plants flowered without vernalization, and only a low percentage flowered with 4-week vernalization. Compared with low DLI, a 14 mol·m-2·d-1 before vernalization delayed flowering by 7 to 20 days in `Remembrance', but there were no substantial differences in flowering characteristics of `Sunray'. `Hidcote Blue' plants were best vernalized in the light at 5 °C for 8 weeks to obtain rapid and uniform flowering and the highest number of inflorescences. Flowering and survival percentages of `Hidcote Blue' were much lower for plants at 14 mol·m-2·d-l DLI compared to 4 mol·m-2·d-1.

2007 ◽  
Vol 132 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lee Ann Moccaldi ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

Photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) and temperature are two environmental factors that profoundly influence plant growth and development. Two common ornamental annual crops, salvia (Salvia splendens F. Sello ex Roem & Schult.) and marigold (Tagetes patula L.), were grown in glass greenhouses under a mean DLI of 5 to 25 mol·m−2·d−1 at temperatures from 14 to 27 °C. Growth (e.g., plant dry weight at flowering) and flowering characteristics (e.g., time to flowering and flower number) were modeled in response to the mean daily temperature and DLI by using multiple regression analysis. The rate of progress to flowering of salvia and marigold was primarily influenced by the mean air temperature. For example, time from seedling transplant to flowering of salvia decreased from 42 days to 24 days as temperature increased from 15 to 25 °C, with a mean DLI of 10 mol·m−2·d−1. Flower number and plant dry weight on the date of first flowering generally decreased with increasing temperature and decreasing DLI in both species. For example, marigold plants grown at 15 °C and a mean DLI of 25 mol·m−2·d−1 were 2.45 times greater in dry weight, had 2.12 more flowers, and had 49% larger flowers at flowering compared with plants grown at 25 °C and a mean DLI of 5 mol·m−2·d−1. The models can be used to predict the impact of changing light and temperature conditions on plant quality and flowering of these two crops.


Agriculture ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1255
Author(s):  
Marco Hernandez Velasco

High efficacy LED lamps combined with adaptive lighting control and greenhouse integrated photovoltaics (PV) could enable the concept of year-round cultivation. This concept can be especially useful for increasing the production in the Nordic countries of crops like herbaceous perennials, forest seedlings, and other potted plants not native of the region, which are grown more than one season in this harsh climate. Meteorological satellite data of this region was analyzed in a parametric study to evaluate the potential of these technologies. The generated maps showed monthly average temperatures fluctuating from −20 °C to 20 °C throughout the year. The natural photoperiod and light intensity also changed drastically, resulting in monthly average daily light integral (DLI) levels ranging from 45–50 mol·m−2·d−1 in summer and contrasting with 0–5 mol·m−2·d−1 during winter. To compensate, growth room cultivation that is independent of outdoor conditions could be used in winter. Depending on the efficacy of the lamps, the electricity required for sole-source lighting at an intensity of 300 µmol·m−2·s−1 for 16 h would be between 1.4 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Greenhouses with supplementary lighting could help start the cultivation earlier in spring and extend it further into autumn. The energy required for lighting highly depends on several factors such as the natural light transmittance, the light threshold settings, and the lighting control protocol, resulting in electric demands between 0.6 and 2.4 kWh·m−2·d−1. Integrating PV on the roof or wall structures of the greenhouse could offset some of this electricity, with specific energy yields ranging from 400 to 1120 kWh·kW−1·yr−1 depending on the region and system design.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 490-495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumiko Kohyama ◽  
Catherine Whitman ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

When the natural daylength is short, commercial growers of ornamental long-day plants (LDP) often provide low-intensity lighting to more rapidly and uniformly induce flowering. Incandescent (INC) lamps have been traditionally used for photoperiodic lighting because their spectrum, rich in red [R (600 to 700 nm)] and far-red [FR (700 to 800 nm)] light, is effective and they are inexpensive to purchase and install. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are much more energy efficient, can emit wavelengths of light that specifically regulate flowering, and last at least 20 times longer. We investigated the efficacy of two new commercial LED products developed for flowering applications on the LDP ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum), calibrachoa (Calibrachoa ×hybrida), two cultivars of dianthus (Dianthus chinensis), and two cultivars of petunia (Petunia ×hybrida). Plants were grown under a 9-hour short day without or with a 4-hour night interruption (NI) delivered by one of three lamp types: INC lamps (R:FR = 0.59), LED lamps with R and white (W) diodes [R + W (R:FR = 53.35)], and LED lamps with R, W, and FR diodes [R + W + FR (R:FR = 0.67)]. The experiment was performed twice, both at a constant 20 °C, but the photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) during the second replicate (Rep. II) was twice that in the first (Rep. I). In all crops and in both experimental replicates, time to flower, flower or inflorescence and node number, and plant height were similar under the R + W + FR LEDs and the INC lamps. However, in Rep. I, both petunia cultivars developed more nodes and flowering was delayed under the R + W LEDs compared with the INC or R + W + FR LEDs. In Rep. II, petunia flowering time and node number were similar under the three NI treatments. Plant height of both dianthus cultivars was generally shorter under the NI treatment without FR light (R + W LEDs). These results indicate that when the DLI is low (e.g., ≤6 mol·m−2·d−1), FR light is required in NI lighting for the most rapid flowering of some but not all LDP; under a higher DLI, the flowering response to FR light in NI lighting is apparently diminished.


HortScience ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (4) ◽  
pp. 465-471 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Garrett Owen ◽  
Qingwu Meng ◽  
Roberto G. Lopez

Under natural short days, growers can use photoperiodic lighting to promote flowering of long-day plants and inhibit flowering of short-day plants. Unlike traditional lamps used for photoperiodic lighting, low-intensity light-emitting diode (LED) lamps allow for a wide array of adjustable spectral distributions relevant to regulation of flowering, including red (R) and white (W) radiation with or without far-red (FR) radiation. Our objective was to quantify how day-extension (DE) photoperiodic lighting from two commercially available low-intensity LED lamps emitting R + W or R + W + FR radiation interacted with daily light integral (DLI) to influence stem elongation and flowering of several ornamental species. Long-day plants [petunia (Petunia ×hybrida Vilm.-Andr. ‘Dreams Midnight’) and snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus L. ‘Oh Snap Pink’)], short-day plants [african marigold (Tagetes erecta L. ‘Moonsong Deep Orange’) and potted sunflower (Helianthus annuus L. ‘Pacino Gold’)], and day-neutral plants [pansy (Viola ×wittrockiana Gams. ‘Matrix Yellow’) and zinnia (Zinnia elegans Jacq. ‘Magellan Cherry’)] were grown at 20/18 °C day/night air temperatures and under low (6–9 mol·m−2·d−1) or high (16–19 mol·m−2·d−1) seasonal photosynthetic DLIs from ambient solar radiation combined with supplemental high-pressure sodium lighting and DE LED lighting. Photoperiods consisted of a truncated 9-hour day (0800–1700 hr) with additional 1-hour (1700–1800 hr, 10 hours total), 4-hour (1700–2100 hr, 13 hours total), or 7-hour (1700–2400 hr, 16 hours total) R + W or R + W + FR LED lighting at 2 μmol·m−2·s−1. Days to visible bud, plant height at first open flower, and time to first open flower (TTF) of each species were influenced by DLI, lamp type, and photoperiod though to different magnitudes. For example, plant height of african marigold and potted sunflower at first open flower was greatest under R + W + FR lamps, high DLIs, and 16-hour photoperiods. Petunia grown under R + W lamps, high DLI, and 10- and 13-hour photoperiods were the most compact. For all species, TTF was generally reduced under high DLIs. For example, regardless of the lamp type, flowering of african marigold occurred fastest under a high DLI and 10-hour photoperiod. Flowering of petunia and snapdragon occurred fastest under a high DLI, R + W + FR lamps, and a 16-hour photoperiod. However, only under high DLIs, R + W or R + W + FR lamps were equally effective at promoting flowering when used to provide DE lighting. Our data suggest that under low DLIs, flowering of long-day plants (petunia and snapdragon) occurs more rapidly under lamps providing R + W + FR, whereas under high DLIs, flowering is promoted similarly under either R + W or R + W + FR lamps.


HortScience ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 341-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wook Oh ◽  
In Hye Cheon ◽  
Ki Sun Kim ◽  
Erik S. Runkle

This study was carried out to examine the effect of photosynthetic daily light integral (DLI) on the growth and flowering of cyclamen (Cyclamen persicum Mill. ‘Metis Scarlet Red’). Plants with six fully unfolded leaves were grown at 24/16 °C (12 h/12 h) under an 8- or 16-h photoperiod at a photosynthetic photon flux of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 μmol·m−2·s−1, which provided seven DLIs: 1.4, 2.9, 4.3, 5.8, 8.6, 11.5, and 17.3 mol·m−2·d−1. Days to first flower decreased from 133 to 75 as DLI increased from 1.4 to 17.3 mol·m−2·d−1, although the acceleration of flowering was less pronounced when the DLI was greater than 5.8 mol·m−2·d−1. Mean leaf and flower number increased from 8.7 to 28.0 and from 0 to 14.7, respectively, as DLI increased from 1.4 to 11.5 mol·m−2·d−1, but there was no further increase under a DLI of 17.3 mol·m−2·d−1. Total dry weight and net photosynthetic rate showed a similar trend as leaf and flower number. We conclude that supplemental lighting can accelerate greenhouse production of potted cyclamen under a low ambient DLI (i.e., less than 12 mol·m−2·d−1).


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Fausey ◽  
Royal D. Heins ◽  
Arthur C. Cameron

The growth and development of Achillea ×millefolium L. `Red Velvet', Gaura lindheimeri Engelm. & Gray `Siskiyou Pink' and Lavandula angustifolia Mill. `Hidcote Blue' were evaluated under average daily light integrals (DLIs) of 5 to 20 mol·m-2·d-1. Plants were grown in a 22 ± 2 °C glass greenhouse with a 16-h photoperiod under four light environments: 50% shading of ambient light plus PPF of 100 μmol·m-2·s-1 (L1); ambient light plus PPF of 20 μmol·m-2·s-1 (L2); ambient light plus PPF of 100 μmol·m-2·s-1 (L3); and ambient light plus PPF of 150 μmol·m-2·s-1 (L4). Between 5 to 20 mol·m-2·d-1, DLI did not limit flowering and had little effect on timing in these studies. Hence, the minimum DLI required for flowering of Achillea, Gaura and Lavandula must be <5 mol·m-2·d-1, the lowest light level tested. However, all species exhibited prostrate growth with weakened stems when grown at a DLI of about 10 mol·m-2·d-1. Visual quality and shoot dry mass of Achillea, Gaura and Lavandula linearly increased as DLI increased from 5 to 20 mol·m-2·d-1 and there was no evidence that these responses to light were beginning to decline. While 10 mol·m-2·d-1 has been suggested as an adequate DLI, these results suggest that 15 to 20 mol·m-2·d-1 should be considered a minimum for production of these herbaceous perennials when grown at about 22 °C.


2007 ◽  
Vol 132 (6) ◽  
pp. 751-757 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beth A. Fausey ◽  
Arthur C. Cameron

Many polycarpic herbaceous perennials are known to have a cold-requirement for flowering. To determine the range and relative effectiveness of vernalization temperatures for flower induction, clonally propagated plants of veronica (Veronica spicata L.) ‘Red Fox’ and laurentia [Laurentia axillaris (Lindl.) E. Wimm.] were exposed to temperatures from −2.5 to 20 °C at 2.5 °C increments for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks (veronica ‘Red Fox’) and 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, or 15 weeks (laurentia). After treatments, growth and flowering were monitored in a glass greenhouse set at 20 °C with an average daily light integral of ≈5 mol·m−2·d−1. Both veronica ‘Red Fox’ and laurentia exhibited obligate vernalization requirements for flowering, but the temperature–response curves were distinctly different. A minimum of 4 weeks at −2.5 and 0 °C, 6 weeks at 2.5 °C, and 8 weeks at 5 and 7.5 °C was required for complete (100%) flowering of veronica ‘Red Fox’, while a minimum of 5 weeks at 5 to 10 °C, 7.5 weeks at 12.5 °C, and 10 weeks at 2.5 °C were required for complete flowering of laurentia. For veronica ‘Red Fox’, node number under each flower and flower timing were relatively fixed following up to 8 weeks at each temperature, although these values generally decreased at each temperature with extended exposure for laurentia. Based on percent flowering and percentage of lateral nodes flowering, vernalization of veronica ‘Red Fox’ was most effective at 0 and −2.5 °C, while based on percent flowering and flower number, vernalization of laurentia was most effective at 5 to 10 °C.


HortScience ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 25 (9) ◽  
pp. 1144e-1144
Author(s):  
Gary J. Wilfret

Plant growth and flower development of Easter lilies (Lilium longiflorum) were evaluated for 3 years (1988-90). Bulbs of cvs. Ace and Nellie White were soaked preplant in solutions of uniconazole at cones. of 0 to 5 ppm at durations of 1 to 5 minutes and compared to bulbs soaked in ancymidol at 5 to 40 ppm. Time of bulb soak had no effect on amount of solution absorbed and on growth and flower development. Plant height from bulbs soaked in water alone was variable among the 3 years, ranging from 56 to 70 cm for Nellie White and 55 to 89 cm for Ace. Ancymidol concs. of 5, 10, 20, and 40 ppm retarded plant height 10.8, 14.5, 33.8, and 46.2%, respectively. Uniconazole solutions at 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, 10, and 20 ppm produced Nellie White plants 16.7, 70.4, 56.8, 46.9, 39.3, and 30.8% of the height of the water soaked bulbs, respectively. Response of Ace to similar uniconazole concentrations was slightly less. High uniconazole concentration (> 5 ppm) delayed flowering time and reduced the number of floral buds which developed. Variability among plants within uniconazole treatments was large and would not be acceptable commercially.


HortScience ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 645-649 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Faust ◽  
Veronda Holcombe ◽  
Nihal C. Rajapakse ◽  
Desmond R. Layne

Daily light integral (DLI) describes the rate at which photosynthetically active radiation is delivered over a 24-hour period and is a useful measurement for describing the greenhouse light environment. A study was conducted to quantify the growth and flowering responses of bedding plants to DLI. Eight bedding plant species [ageratum (Ageratum houstonianum L.), begonia (Begonia ×semperflorens-cultorum L.), impatiens (Impatiens wallerana L.), marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida Juss.), salvia (Salvia coccinea L.), vinca (Catharanthus roseus L.), and zinnia (Zinnia elegans L.)] were grown outdoors in direct solar radiation or under one of three shade cloths (50, 70 or 90% photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) reduction) that provided DLI treatments ranging from 5 to 43 mol·m–2·d–1. The total plant dry mass increased for all species, except begonia and impatiens, as DLI increased from 5 to 43 mol·m–2·d–1. Total plant dry mass of begonia and impatiens increased as DLI increased from 5 to 19 mol·m–2·d–1. Impatiens, begonia, salvia, ageratum, petunia, vinca, zinnia, and marigold achieved 50% of their maximum flower dry mass at 7, 8, 12, 14, 19, 20, 22, and 23 mol·m–2·d–1, respectively. The highest flower number for petunia, salvia, vinca, and zinnia occurred at 43 mol·m–2·d–1. Time to flower decreased for all species, except begonia and impatiens, as DLI increased to 19 or 43 mol·m–2·d–1. There was no consistent plant height response to DLI across species, although the shoot and flower dry mass per unit height increased for all species as DLI increased from 5 to 43 mol·m–2·d–1. Guidelines for managing DLI for bedding plant production in greenhouses are discussed.


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