Comparison of leatherleaf fern cultivars for yield, frond and vase life characteristics
Robert H. Stamps , Annette L. Chandler
2725 Binion Road, Apopka, FL, USA, 32703-8504
2002
บทคัดย่อ
Although it is the predominant cultivated florists’ green, there is no published information on the characteristics of the cultivars of leatherleaf fern [Rumohra adiantiformis (Forst.) Ching]. Two patented cultivars, two cultivars derived using tissue culture techniques, and four additional cultivars were planted in a fernery in Tavares-Millhopper fine sand. Forty-eight rhizome pieces of each cultivar, 10 to 15 cm in length, were planted per plot. Plots were 3 square meters in size and were re[;ocated six times per cultivar. During the first year, frond development from crosier to mature leaf was monitored. When fronds in the plantings reached marketable size, they were harvested, graded by size, counted and weighed. Periodically, mature fronds were harvested, stored aat 4oC for 16 days, and then evaluated under simulated home/office conditions for vase life. After two years of harvesting, fresh weights of fronds were lower for the two tissue culture-derived (TC) cultivars (Dutch, Mayfield TC) and the patented cultivar Fancy compared to the other cultivars (Adair, Baker, Mayfield, Price, Roy Ruth). Price produced more extra large fronds than the other varieties wheres Dutch, Fancy and Mayfield TC produced fewer. Overal, Fancy produced the fewest fronds, followed by Roy Ruth. However, these two cultivars produced the heaviest fronds compared to the TC cultivars that produced the lightest fronds. Fancy fronds did not produce sori and there were few fertile TC fronds. Generally, larger fronds were more likely to be fertile, and this is probably explains the low percentage of TC fronds with sori. There was also a trend for vase life to decrease with increasing frond size for a majority of the cultivars. Seasonal vase life fluctuations were apparest for all cultivars.