FLOWER INITIATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN ENDEMIC IRANIAN LILY (Lilium ledebourii Boiss.)

Mehdi Salehi

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht

Abdollah Hatamzadeh

Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht

Vahab Jafarian

Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zanjan, Zanjan

Shahin Zarre

Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran

Julian Cuevas

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Almeria, Almeria


Abstract

This study was performed to depict the anatomical changes in apical meristems in order to determine the flower initiation and development of Iranian lily (Lilium ledebourii). Observations carried out by scanning electron microscope (SEM) on groups of bulbs with different age and size showed that only large (≥55 g and ≥6 cm in diameter) 9-year-old and older bulbs expressed flowering transition, abandoning the juvenile condition. The switch from vegetative to reproductive in the apical meristem was characterized by flattening its dome. Flower initiation started between 10 and 20 days after planting, once the bulbs have passed a period of vernalization of two months at 3°C. The first hint of floral organ definition was noted 30 to 50 days after planting when the outer perianths started to grow followed by inner perianths in a pattern of 3−3. After complementation of flower formation by stamen and pistil appearance and development, flower abortion occurred in some bulbs 30 days after flower initiation. Flower bud abortion could not be linked to the bulb size. Identification of the exact time of flower initiation will be useful to provide proper management of Iranian lily in the process of domestication of this endemic endangered lily.

Keywords:

Lilium ledebourii, flower development, bulb size, SEM

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Published
2018-12-21



Mehdi Salehi 
Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht
Abdollah Hatamzadeh 
Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht
Vahab Jafarian 
Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zanjan, Zanjan
Shahin Zarre 
Department of Plant Sciences, School of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran
Julian Cuevas 
Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agricultural Science, University of Almeria, Almeria



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