Intervenciones para la programacion de la floracion en Alstroemeria hybrida

Temperature of growing medium is the main factor involved in the floral initiation and cut stem production of Alstroemeria. In addition, long-day conditions are reported to increase early cut stem production of plants. In this research the effects of growing medium cooling system (T<10°C) and long-day conditions (16 hours) were evaluated with regard to flowering earliness and cut stem production of Alstroemeria cv Sacha, grown in a heated glasshouse (set point 8 °C). Cooling treatment reduced the soil temperature in the 0÷30 cm layer of about 7 °C (16 vs 23 °C in no cooled control) and increased cut stem production (319 vs 268 stems m-2) and stem quality (52% vs 42% of Extra+First grades) compared to the control. Photoperiodic lighting reduced plant productivity (266 vs 322 stems m-2 in natural light conditions) with no significant effect on stem quality.