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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #127593
Title: FLOWERING AND BULB QUALITY OF LILIACEOUS SPECIES IN RESPONSE TO MYCORRHIZALFUNGI

Author
item Scagel, Carolyn
item Linderman, Robert

Submitted to: International Plant Propagators Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/13/2001
Publication Date: 12/1/2001
Citation: Scagel, C.F., Linderman, R.G. 2001. Flowering and bulb quality of liliaceous species in response to mycorrhizalfungi. Plant Propagators Society Proceedings. 51:280-286.

Interpretive Summary: Members of the Liliaceae form mycorrhizal associations with vesicular- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF). There is little available information describing the benefits of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on different aspects of productivity and flowering of liliaceous bulb crops except onion, and little information describing the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on flowering. This paper presents results from several inoculation experiments with VAMF on bulb, corm, and flower production in several liliaceous plant species including Brodiaea laxa (Wild Hyacinth), Sparaxis tricolor (Harlequin Flower), Zephyranthes sulfurea (Yellow Rain Lily), Z. robusta (Pink Fawn Lily), Z. candida (White Rain Lily), and Freesia x hybrida. With some species, inoculation with VAMF decreased the number of days until stem and flower emergence.VAMF also influenced partitioning of plant growth between flower production and leaf production for some species causing changes in plant form and development. Bulb nutrient composition and levels of storage reserves were different between inoculated and non-inoculated plants for several of the factors measured. Changes in plant development suggest that although reserves in bulbs and corms are important for growth after planting, inoculation with VAMF can still influence initial plant growth.

Technical Abstract: Members of the Liliaceae form mycorrhizal associations with vesicular- arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (VAMF). There is little available information describing the benefits of inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi on different aspects of productivity and flowering of liliaceous bulb crops except onion, and little information describing the effects of mycorrhizal fungi on flowering. This paper presents results from several inoculation experiments with VAMF on bulb, corm, and flower production in several liliaceous plant species. A comparison of bulb nutrient composition and levels of nitrogen and carbohydrates were also compared between inoculated and non-inoculated plants. With some species, inoculation with VAMF decreased the number of days until stem and flower emergence. VAMF also influenced partitioning of plant growth between flower production and leaf production for some species causing changes in plant form and development during the first growing season and in the growing season following inoculation.Numbers of daughter bulbs and bulb weight were also influenced by inoculation with VAMF. Bulb nutrient composition and levels of storage reserves were different between inoculated and non-inoculated plants for several of the factors measured. Changes in plant growth suggest that although reserves in bulbs and corms are important for growth after planting, inoculation with VAMF can still influence initial plant growth. Changes in the timing of plant development could be a result of differential carbon partitioning or nutrient acquisition between plants with or without VAM.