Floral developmental timing in the ornamental progenitor species Anthurium amnicola Dressler

 

Jon Y. Suzuki, Jonathan R. Horrel, Joanne L. Imamura, Teresita D. Amore, & Tracie K. Matsumoto

 

ABSTRACT

A timeline of five readily identifiable points in the development of the floral stem of Anthurium amnicola Dressler was determined to establish a framework to study floral gene expression in this species. The five stages were designated as: stage 1, bud in sheath; stage 2, bud emergence; stage 3, bud elongation; stage 4, unfurled spathe; and, stage 5, reflexed spathe.

 

The total duration of floral development, from stage 1 to stage 5, in A. Amnicola accessions varied, on average, from 39 up to 45 days, depending on the accession and phenotype.

 

Overall, the period encompassing floral bud elongation (stage 3) occupied greater than 50% of floral development for all accessions evaluated. Female receptivity and expressed volatiles (fragrance) were most highly correlated with the reflexed spathe stage (stage 5). The duration between the reflexed spathe stage (stage 5) of the older stem and the new floral stem ranged from 33 to 41 days, depending on the accession and phenotype studied. The A. Amnicola accessions with shorter relative flower life also had consistently shorter cycling time between flowers, indicative of higher yielding plants.

 

KEYWORDS

Anthurium amnicola, spathe, sheath, flower yield, stigma exudate, pollen dehiscence,

fragrance