Effects of vernalization and plant regulators on growth and flowering of Lilium longiflorum Thunb

Abstract

Lily bulbs were held at 22°C or vernalized at 4° or 8°C for two weeks and then soaked for 12 hours in 1,000 ppm gibberellic acid (GA) or 1,000 ppm indolylacetic acid (IAA) before being planted in the field. Treatment of lily bulbs with 4°C for two weeks delayed shoot emergence. This delay by vernalization was removed when bulbs were soaked for 12 hours in 1,000 ppm GA or IAA. Vernalization and plant regulators had no consistent effects on the plant height or on the plant quality. Bulbs vernalization at 4° or 8°C for two weeks reduced the number of stems produced. There were no differences in the dates of anthesis between the treatments. Flower quality was improved by bulb vernalization at 8°C for two weeks or by immersion for 12 hours in 1,000 ppm IAA.