EFFECT OF HOT-WATER TREATMENT AND BULB STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON PROPAGATION OF NARCISSUS TAZETTA BY THE CHIPPING AND TWIN-SCALING TECHNIQUES

Abstract

In the current study there were 6 treatment of all combinations of two propagation methods (chipping and twin-scaling), two propagating bulb storage temperatures (pre-cooling and no pre-cooling), two hot-water treatments (hwt and no hwt). Treatments were applied to measure the effects on the propagation of Narcissus tazetta cv. "Ziva" bulbs. The major effects were those of propagation methods and pre-propagating bulb storage temperatures. Chipping, pre-cooling and hwt consistently affected the bulblet formation in both seasons and bulblet weight per chip in the first season only but had no effect on number of bulblets. Chipping method increased all parameters (bulblet formation, weight and circumference of bulblet and number of bulblets per chip, number and length of leaves and roots per-chip). However, chipping resulted in lager, but fewer bulblets than twin-scaling. Pre-cooling increased bulblet formation and both weight and circumference of bulblet in the first season only but reduced number and length of leaves and roots in the second one only. Hot-water treatment increased bulblet formation in both seasons but reduced number and length of leaves and roots in the first season only.