Agro-mophological characterization, adaptational behaviour and flower abnormalities of Lilium L. cultivars in addition to a flower with stochastic flower formula

Abstract

This experiment was undertaken to determine the adaptation of Lilium L. cultivars to North-Western part of Türkiye and to define morphologic plant growth characteristics at aboveground part, including flower life and flower abnormalities. The bulbs of the three Lilium L. cultivars, ‘Profundo’, ‘Valverde’, and ‘Vonq’, were sown to perlite in pots in June, 2021, and evaluated for emergence and flowering rates, stem and plant height, stem and flower diameter, leaf and flower number, flower abnormality rates, flower fragrance degree and flower life in 2022, after one year adaptation without removing the previous sown bulbs. As the results of the cultivars differences these were determined that, at the adaptive year; the emergence rates varied between 60.42-89.58%, flowering rates changed between 43.75-87.50%, stem heights changed between 40.63-48.25 cm, plant heights changed between 52.50-59.75 cm and these data showed statistically importance. In addition to the data in the adaptive year; stem diameters, leaf numbers, flower numbers flower fragrance degree and flower longevities also showed statistical importance between cultivars. The flower abnormality rates were found between 8.3-25% in cultivars although no statistical results. Interestingly a striking, stochastic case also was observed from a flower with 8 tepals, 8 stamen and 4 lobed stigma at ‘Valverde’ contrary to well-known flower formula. It has been concluded that ‘Profundo’ has more remarkable result in terms of longevity of flower compared to the other two varieties while ‘Valverde’ and ‘Vonq’ shared the same group with some precedence in most of the agro-morphologic characteristics e.g. plant height, stem height and stem diameter. Lilium L. ‘Vonq’ showed that the highest adaptive capacity among the cultivars with the highest emergence rate (89.58) in all sowed bulbs and flowering rate (87.50) in all emerged bulbs under the study conditions in the open-air.