Development of Texas Bluebonnets into Floricultural Crops

Calcium and 1-Methylcyclopropene Delay Desiccation of Lupinus havardii Cut Racemes

“…(Big Bend bluebonnet) have excellent commercial potential as a greenhouse-grown specialty cut flower (Davis et al, 1994). The L. havardii raceme is ethylene sensitive and highly perishable (Davis et al, 1994), thus successful commercialization depends strongly on satisfactory postproduction quality and longevity, as is requisite for other new floral crops (Armitage, 1986;Armitage and Wilkins, 1998;Saxtan, 1998). Positive vase life response of cut L. havardii racemes to preconditioning treat-dency of a plant reproductive structure (Marschner, 1995).…”

“…Since the indigenous habitat of L. havardii is confined to calcareous soils of the semiarid southwestern United States (Davis et al, 1994;Soil Conservation Service, 1974, the species appears to express calcicole-like behavior in a protected environment (Picchioni et al, 2001). Calcium supplementation to its greenhouse culture solution would therefore appear to be a logical strategy to extend vase life of the racemes.…”

Correlative Supply and Demand Functions in Lupinus havardii: A Forgotten Side of Cut Flower Physiology?

“…Lupinus havardii (big bend bluebonnet) is a new introduction to the U.S. specialty cut flower trade and has excellent niche market potential (Davis et al, 1994;Mackay and Davis, 1998). However, this potential is limited by rapid perishability associated with high sensitivity to endogenous and exogenous ethylene (Davis et al, 1995;Sankhla et al, 2001;Vasquez, 1998).…”

Calcium-activated Root Growth and Mineral Nutrient Accumulation of Lupinus havardii: Ecophysiological and Horticultural Significance

“…The fragrant and attractive blue raceme of the winter annual Lupinus havardii has considerable potential as a new greenhouse specialty cut flower in the southwestern United States (Davis et al, 1994). Since L. havardii is indigenous to a narrow geographic band extending ≈500 to 600 km along the Texas-Mexico border, which surrounds Big Bend National Park (see map in Davis et al, 1994), the species is commonly known as Big Bend bluebonnet.…”

“…The fragrant and attractive blue raceme of the winter annual Lupinus havardii has considerable potential as a new greenhouse specialty cut flower in the southwestern United States (Davis et al, 1994). Since L. havardii is indigenous to a narrow geographic band extending ≈500 to 600 km along the Texas-Mexico border, which surrounds Big Bend National Park (see map in Davis et al, 1994), the species is commonly known as Big Bend bluebonnet. This semiarid region is located in the Chihuahuan Desert and is characterized by xerophytic vegetation, low annual rainfall (15 to 30 cm per year), high annual mean temperature (19 to 20 o C), long frostfree growing season (230 to 290 d), 65% to 80% mean annual possible sunshine, and high surface evaporation potential (180 to 230 cm per year) with a significant precipitation deficit every month of the year (Arbingast et al, 1973;Levings et al, 1998).…”