EFFECT OF A GIBBERELLIC-ACID QUICK-DIP AND STORAGE ON THE YIELD AND QUALITY OF BLOOMS FROM HYBRID ZANTEDESCHIA TUBERS

Dipping Zantedeschia tubers in 25 or 50 ppm GA3 just prior to planting almost doubled bloom yield in field grown plants but quality was increased by the 25 ppm treatment only. In greenhouse-protected plants, the 25 ppm GA3 treatment increased yield by up to four times. Prolonged storage of tubers at 12-degrees-C resulted in a substantial and progressive decline in yield. Treatment with GA3 partly compensated for this yield loss. Storage of tubers at 12-degrees-C progressively shortened the harvest period, whereas GA3 treatment extended it sufficiently to more than compensate for this reduction.