Enhancement of Growth and Flowering of Triteleia laxa by Ethylene

Abstract

Exposure of dormant corms of Triteleia laxa `Queen Fabiola' to 20 ppm C 2 H 4 for 7 days promoted flowering of small corms and resulted in increased apical meristem size, early sprouting, early flowering, more flowers per Inflorescence, and increased fresh weight of daughter corms and cormels. The respiration rate of the C&treated corms increased to four to five times that of the controls during the 7-day treatment, declined markedly after termination of the C 2 H 4 treatment, but remained higher than that of the controls. The C 2 H 4 effects were associated with increased growth rate and consequently a greater final size of the apical meristem (determined by scanning electron microscopy). Leaves produced by C 2 H 4 -treated corms were wider, longer, and weighed more than those of the controls.