Evaluation of monopodial orchids for cut flower
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Date
2007
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Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College Horticulture, Vellanikkara
Abstract
The investigation on the evaluation of monopodial orchids was conducted in the
Department of Pomology and Floriculture, College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara during
2005-.2006 with the main objective of evaluating their field performance for commercial
exploitation.
Forty monopodial orchids belonging to monogenenc, bigeneric and trigeneric
origin were selected for the study. They were evaluated for their height, spread, shoot
characters (length, girth), leaf characters (length, breadth, area, interval of production,
leaf sheath length, breadth), aerial root characters (number, length, breadth), floral
characters (spike emergence to opening of florets, length, girth and longevity of spike,
interval of production, annual production of spikes, number of florets/spike, individual
flowe r life, flower size, blooming period under field conditions.
They exhibited wide variation in both vegetative and floral characters. The orchid
varieties were grouped as tall climbing, intermediate climbing and short-stemmed
epiphytes. Among the tall climbing orchids, maximum increase in height was observed in
Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon and minimum in Aeridachnis Apple Blossom. Shoot
girth, leaf length and leaf area were maximum in Holttumara Bright Eye while minimum
girth was recorded in Vanda John Club. Vanda Prolific had the maximum internodal
length. Maximum numbers of leaves was recorded in Renanthera Manila and roots in
Vandc. John Club and Renanthera Cape Sabel. Interval of leaf production and root length
were maximum in Aranthera Mana Meina while interval of leaf production was
minimum in Arachnis Maggie Oei Yellow Ribbon.
Duration from spike emergence to opening of florets was maximum in Arachnis
Maggie Oei Red Ribbon (first and fifty per cent florets) and Aranthera Lily Brook Red
(complete opening of florets) and minimum in Holttumara Bright Eye. Spike characters
like spike length, rachis length, stalk length, spike girth, days taken from opening to
wilting of first floret and spike longevity were maximum in Aranthera Lily Brook Red,
while stalk length and internodal length was maximum Aeridachnis Apple Blossom and
Aracl nis Maggie Yellow Ribbon respectively. Floral characters like number of florets
per spi.ce and individual flower life were maximum in Aranthera Lily Brook Red, pedicel
length in Vanda Mandai Glow and individual flower size in Aranthera Mana Meina and
Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon. Interval of spike production was minimum in
Aranthera Anne Black and maximum in Renanthera Manila. Aranda Deborah produced
maximum number of spikes per year followed by Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon, and
Aranthera Anne Black.
Among intermediate climbing epiphytes, Mokara Sayan x Kultana Gold recorded
maximum increase in height, shoot girth, leaf width and internodal length whereas it
recorded the least interval of leaf production. Ascocenda Raminder Gold x Fortune East
recor ed the maximum leaf area and Mokara Bangkok Gold, the minimum. The
internodal length recorded in Vascostylis Pine Rivers Pink was minimum followed by
Vascostylis Pine Rivers Blue and Red.
Mokara WaIter Oumae Yellow recorded maximum and Vanda JVB x Ascocenda
YSW, the minimum duration from spike emergence to opening of first floret while
Mokara WaIter Oumae White, the maximum for opening of all florets and Ascocenda
Rami) der Gold x Fortune East, the minimum. Spike characters like spike length, stalk
length, spike girth and internodal length were maximum in Mokara Sayan x KuItana
Gold while duration from opening to wilting of first floret, rachis length and spike
longevity were maximum in Mokara Waiter Oumae White. Interval of spike production
was n.aximum in Mokara Sayan x Kultana Gold and minimum in Vascostylis Pine Rivers
Red. Annual spike production was maximum in Mokara Calypso Pink closely followed
by Vascostylis Pine Rivers Red and Ascocenda Princess Mikasa Pink.
Short-stemmed varieties exhibited a slow rate of growth. Phalaenopsis Hwafeng
Red . '8wel recorded maximum leaf area, Phalaenopsis (Pinlong Spring x Taisuco
Koch,' ian) x Phalaenopsis (Miami Sunrise x Tiny Ivory), the minimum. Duration from
spike emergence to opening of all florets and spike characters like length, stalk length,
internodal Iength were maximum in Phalae nopsis Diana Pink and rachis length and spike
longevity in Phalaenopsis Hwafeng Red Jewel. Phalaenopsis Memoria Grand Mother
had maximum number of florets per spike. Flower size was maximum in Phalaenopsis
Taisuco Kochdian x Akatsuka Noon, pedicel length in Phalaenopsis Diana Pink and
indivi lual flower life in Phalaenopsis Taipei Gold. All the Phalaenopsis hybrids
produced spikes at an interval close to a year except Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kochdian x
Akatsuka Noon.
The qualitative characters of the monopodial orchid varieties differed in all
aspects and a wide range of vegetative and floral characters could be observed. They also
differed with regard to flowering; being free flowering, with short dearth periods or
seasonal flowering.
Considering the qualitative and quantitative characters, among tall climbing
orchic.s, Aranthera Anne Black, Aranthera Lily Brook Red, Aranda Deborah,
Aeridachnis Apple Blossom and Arachnis Maggie Oei Red Ribbon has Immense
potential for use as cut flower together with the intermediate climbing types, viz., Mokara
Chark Kuan Pink, Mokara Walter Oumae White and Mokara Calypso Pink.
Phalaenopsis Taisuco Kochdian x Akatsuka Noon, a short stemmed epiphyte would be
an excellent choice.
The performance projected short-stemmed Phalaenopsis hybrids the best as pot
plants Intermediate climbing epiphyte, viz., Ascocenda Princess Mikasa Pink, Vascostylis
varietr e s and Vanda JVB x Ascocenda Yip Sum Wah would also make excellent pot
plants.
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