Exogenous Application of Gibberellic Acid Improves Flowering in Kalanchoë

Abstract

<jats:p><jats:italic>Kalanchoë</jats:italic> is an economically important genus comprising numerous potted plants and recently is also emerging as cut flowers. However, the lack of information about flower-inducing factors limits the number of species that can be used in commercial production and breeding programs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of exogenous application of gibberellic acid (GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>) on flower induction and flowering quality of <jats:italic>Kalanchoë longiflora</jats:italic> and <jats:italic>Kalanchoë pinnata</jats:italic>. The experiment was conducted under a short day (SD) photoperiod with a day temperature of 22 °C and a night temperature of 15 °C for 8 weeks. The treatments consisted of four applications of either 0.25 or 0.50 μg of GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> per plant per week, providing a total of 100 μg or 200 μg/plant and 0 μg/plant for the control. The volume of 100 μL of GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> solution containing 1% agarose was applied to the shoot apex using a pipette. For both species, flowering was enhanced by the GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> treatments compared with the control plants. Gibberellin-treated plants flowered earlier, produced more inflorescences, and exhibited an increased number of flowers compared with the control plants. Moreover, the GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> treatments in <jats:italic>K. longiflora</jats:italic> delayed the appearance of wilted flowers. Plant height increased in plants that received GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub>, but the number of nodes did not differ from the control plants. Thus, we conclude that the application of GA<jats:sub>3</jats:sub> improves flowering of <jats:italic>Kalanchoë</jats:italic> species and can be a useful tool for the production of cut flower cultivars.</jats:p>

Phylogenomic Analysis of the PEBP Gene Family from Kalanchoë

“…The genus presents a wide range of attractive traits that can be of commercial value [26,27]. However, numerous species are difficult both, to induce flowering and control the time of flowering [28][29][30]. Generally, the flowering induction in Kalanchoë is determined by photoperiod.…”

Las fitohormonas una pieza clave en el desarrollo de la agricultura

“…El párrafo anterior denota un amplio conocimiento sobre el papel de las HV en el crecimiento y desarrollo de las plantas. Este conocimiento ha hecho que la aplicación de reguladores de crecimiento hormonales (RCH) (sintéticos) sea de uso común en cultivos hortícolas 14,15 , plantas ornamentales 16,17 , cultivos de uso industrial 18,19 y árboles forestales 20 . Sin embargo, actualmente existen pocos trabajos de revisión y sistematización de datos sobre el uso de hormonas en la agricultura 21,22 , especialmente en español y en revistas científicas.…”