Annals of Warsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGW Horticulture and Landscape Architecture No 30, 2009: 5–10 (Ann. Warsaw Univ. of Life Sc. – SGGW, Horticult. and Landsc. Architect. 30, 2009)

Lachenalia – breeding, culture and usage of a new ornamental bulbous plant

ANNA KAPCZYŃSKA Department of Ornamental Plants, University of Agriculture in Cracow

Abstract: Lachenalia – breeding, culture and usa- protected in cold seasons. Other common ge of a new ornamental bulbous plant. Lachenalia name for Lachenalia is Wild Hyacinth, is a bulbous plant which origins from South Afri- Cape Cowslip (superfi cial resemblance ca. It is a well known commercial plant in African to genus Primula), Leopard Lily (Bryan, area but new to the international fl ower market. By hybridization this fl ower bulb has been signifi - 1989) or in Afrikaans: “viooltjies” or cantly improved. For recent years the researchers “kalossies” (Crosby, 1986). The genus from South Africa have been promoting attractive is named after Werner de Lachenal hybrid crosses known as the African Beauty® se- (1736–1800), a Swiss professor of botany ries, available in different shades and colours: red, (Bryan, 1989). yellow, orange, purple. The breeding programme Lachenalia is endemic to South Africa contributed to the development of interest in the and Namibia with the largest concen- cultivation of Lachenalia in European countries. Lachenalia can be recommended as a pot plant tration of species in the Western Cape and also for the garden, as a tender perennial Province, on the areas with a winter which will not survive frost. Not only the fl owers rainfall (Duncan, 1996). Most of the are attractive but also shoots and leaves which are species follow a winter growing cycle frequently spotted. Lachenalia delights with its (vegetative growth in autumn and winter, exotism, colouring and fl ower shape and certainly fl owering in late winter and spring) with can be used as a new cut fl ower in fl oristic compo- a pronounced dormant period during hot sitions. New hybrids should be surely introduced to Polish growers and the Polish fl ower market. summer (Kleynhans, 2006). In 1985 The Indigenous Bulb Growers Association Key words: cape cowslip, cultivation, breeding, of South Africa, appreciating unusual propagation, tender perennial, cut fl ower, pot plant. character and beauty, indicated the genus Lachenalia as the second most popular plant in the world, behind the genus INTRODUCTION Gladiolus (Duncan, 1988). The genus Lachenalia J.F. Jacq ex Murray (Hyacinthaceae) is a bulbous geophyte DEVELOPMENT that includes more than 100 described AND COMMERCIALIZATION species (Kleynchans, 2006). The bulbs are not resistant to frost and they can be In catalogues of ornamental plants grown in the areas where the temperature Lachenalia is recommended as an fall –5°C and even then they should be attractive new pot plant and garden 6 A. Kapczyńska plant as well as for cut fl ower produc- plants dry bulbs in pots and fi nally sells tion. In South Africa, exceptional plant Lachenalia as potted plant (Kleynhans diversity and endemism (Helme and et al., 2002). All breeding efforts were Trinder-Smith, 2006), intensive research concentrated on getting hybrids with on new methods of propagation, condi- wide range of colours suitable for cut tions of bulb storage and cultivation, fl ower production and on working out have been in progress (Sochacki, 2003). the schedule of methods used during In 1966 Agricultural Research Council yearlong controlled cultivation system (ARC-Roodeplaat) started a breeding (Bach, 2001). The commercial availabi- programme in order to convince com- lity of a new cultivar is possible after mercial growers to increase pot plant a long time and encompasses a 13–15 year and fl ower production of Lachenalia period of intense procedure (Kleynhans, (Du Preez et al., 2002). Early attempts 2006). Hybrid crosses known as the of commercialization were unsuccessful African Beauty® series were promoted because the information on cultiva- in Keukenhof in 1999 and one of them tion and virus control was scarce and – ‘Rupert’ was rewarded as the best bul- propagation material was in insuffi cient bous pot plant (Sochacki, 2003). Other quantities. Also political isolation of the hybrids also received prizes on this show country until the early 1990’s slowed in various categories reserved for fl ower down the progress in breeding research. bulb crop. The success of this true South The year 1992 was a turning point for African product was expected earlier be- Lachenalia programme, because a large cause a market study in 1993 estimated team working under ARC-Roodeplaat the potential market for Lachenalia in leadership speeded up the development Europe at 20 million bulbs per annum but of technology and production of disease still only a limited number of commercial free propagation material. In following growers have exclusive rights to produce years about 250 crosses per year were Lachenalia bulbs (Kleynhans, 2006). carried out that resulted in establishing This fact points that in the future Polish a hybrid evaluation system with selection commercial growers could become im- criteria: desired phenotype and multipli- portant partners for ARC-Roodeplaat in cation. Moreover, Lachenalia was regis- commercial production of Lachenalia. tered as “Cape Hyacinth” (trade name) and in Holland a commercial pot grower MORPHOLOGY AND CULTIVATION was appointed (Kleynhans, 2006). During 1998 and 1999 ARC-Roodeplaat There is an unusual morphological di- developed production system to satisfy versity in genus Lachenalia. The fl eshy the commercial growers’ requirements. bulb is covered with soft or hard tunics, The production system consists of three and vary in shape and size: from 5 mm types of growers. First is the propagator to 35 mm in diameter. The leaves differ who multiplies mother material through in shape, length, width and number. The leaf cuttings. The second in this link is foliage usually occurs in pairs but there the market bulb grower who grows small are single-leaved species. In majority bulblets to marketable size. The last one of species leaves are wide and fl ashy, Lachenalia – breeding, culture and usage... 7 though there are exceptions, for example long keeping ability. Also simultaneous L. contaminata produces grass-like fl owering can be obtained in following leaves. The foliage is arranged in an season due to low temperatures (Du Toit upright or spreading position, but L. et al., 2004). latifolia produces leaves lying on the Lachenalia should be grown in sun ground. Leaves can be spotted, banded, but if the temperatures are high it pre- smooth or hairy – these features are fers shade in the hottest part of the day. characteristic of a concrete species. The During active growth plants require fl owers can be tubular or bell-shaped moderate moisture and good drainage, arranged in three types of infl orescences: watering should be decreased after the spike, the subspicate infl orescence fl owering and stopped when the leaves and the raceme. Flowers are long lasting: become yellow (Bryan, 1989). In pot 6–8 weeks. Some species have fragrant plants industry Lachenalia bulbs are fl owers, for example L. convallario- obtained in the nursery phase from bul- dora. Flowers produce many seeds and blets. This phase of enlargement is very in selected species (L. algoensis) seeds important in whole process of production are adapted (elaiosome) to be spread by so fertilization has a signifi cant effect on ants (Duncan, 1988; Bryan, 1989). the growth and fl owering of pot plants. In Holland the bulb for pot production The trials show that Lachenalia has low are planted from January to November phosphorus and magnesium require- but it is still a problem to obtain plants ments (Roodbol and Niederwieser, 2002) blooming simultaneously therefore but nitrogen applied in the nursery and bulbs in the same phase of fl owering are pot plant phases positively affects the transplanted to bigger pots ready for sale number of fl orets formed per infl ores- (Sochacki, 2003). As Kleynhans (2006) cence (Engelbrecht et al., 2008). emphasizes, each grower should adapt the production to his specifi c conditions PROPAGATION because the microclimate in production area has a signifi cant infl uence on the Lachenalia can be propagated through quality of pot plant, moreover the culti- offsets, bulbils, stolons, bulblets, leaf vars differ in their growth habit. The bulb cuttings, seeds and tissue culture methods storage and forcing temperatures have (Duncan, 1988). Small underground bulbs an infl uence on Lachenalia growth. Roh are called bulblets but if they develop at (2005) claims that the bulb storage and the periphery of the mother-bulb – they are temperature are the main factors which called offsets. Some bulbous species may determine the number of fl orets. During occasionally produce aerial bulblets (bul- bulb storage at 10–15°C fl oret initiation bils) on the fl oral parts or on the edge of can stop but it may continue at 20°C the leaf (De Hertogh and Le Nard, 1993). or 25°C. Infl orescence initiation is also L. bulbifera can produce bulblets above infl uenced by temperature before bulb ground level and others (L. namaquensis) harvest: the lower temperature regime reproduce by stolones which push the during the active growing season, the bulblets away from mother-bulb (Duncan, higher quality of infl orescences with the 1988). These methods are too slow for 8 A. Kapczyńska commercial production and are species- other procedures. In 10–20°C the seeds -specifi c (Kleynhans, 2006). Most species germinate after 2–4 weeks depending on a can be propagated through leaf cuttings species and a hybrid (Kleynhans, 2006). (Duncan, 1988) – this is the commercial Tissue culture propagation of Lache- method of production. The leaf is cut nalia is recommended for the large scale off above ground level and placed verti- multiplication (Ault, 1995; Slabbert cally in a rooting medium. A leaf cutting and Niederwieser, 1999). As mentioned starts to form bulblets and roots after one above, the plants cultivated for commer- month. It is important to cut off the leaf in cial production are frequently infected a suitable physiological stage of mother by OMV. Its symptoms are visible on the plant – best before fl owering (when the leaves as mosaic patterns and on fl owers infl orescence is visible between sheaths as deformations. The virus concentrates of the leaves), the least suitable stage of mainly in bulb growing points (Burger donor plant is in full fl owering (Ndou et and Von Wechmar, 1988) therefore leaf al., 2002). explants are the best source for the in Lachenalia can be propagated through vitro culture. Buds in leaf tissue form seeds – the main mechanism by which from epidermal cells, most (90%) from plants spread in their natural environment. single cells. The tissue age as well as Seed production eliminates Ornitogalum the regeneration potential of species and Mosaic Virus (OMV) (Kleynhans, 2006) hybrids (genotype) have a pronounced and it is important for every fl ower bulb effect on number of buds and size of grower to produce disease free mate- bulblets (Niederwieser and Ndou, 2002) rial that will give the best quality fl o- and it appears that each Lachenalia wers. Moreover, the virus-free bulbs can genotype may require different medium weight 15–20% more than normal com- for micropropagation (Ault, 1995). The mercial stocks so it can be economically components are correlated to the size of profi table to produce the high quality the bulblets: larger bulblets are formed planting stock even though such bulbs on medium with high sucrose concentra- are more expensive (De Hertogh and Le tion (60 g/l). Length of explant shoots Nard, 1993). Last year also symptoms of is an important factor affecting in vitro Freesia sneak virus (FreSV) on Lachena- culture – shoots shorter than 4 mm do lia cultivars were reported (Vaira et al., not form bulblets. The acclimatization 2007). Results from commercial growers of new bulbs is directly correlated with indicate that bulbs treated in a wrong way their size (Slabbert and Niederwieser, can be infected by fungi such as Fusari- 1999). um, Pythium, Penicillium although some cultivars are more susceptible to fungal CONCLUSION disease than others. The losses in pro- duction caused by this fungus can be South Africa is extremely rich in fl ower extremely high (50% of the commercial bulb species but despite this fact its con- bulb production). Lachenalia is easy to tribution in the international fl ower bulb grow from seeds because the germination industry is relatively small. Only few process does not require stratifi cation nor fl ower bulb species (gladiolus, freesia, Lachenalia – breeding, culture and usage... 9 nerine, ornitogalum) indigenous to Sout- nalia viruses in propagation stock. Acta Hort. hern Africa are treated as commercial crops 234: 31–38. and have been introduced to the foreign CROSBY T.S., 1986: The genus Lachenalia. The Plantsman 8: 129–166. markets. Lachenalia appears as perfect DE HERTOGH A., LE NARD M., 1993: The plant with potential to be developed into physiology of fl ower bulbs. Elsevier Science a new crop (Niederwieser and Kleynhans, Publishers. Amsterdam, London. 2002). Extensive work has been done to DU PREEZ H., SPIES J.J., KLEYNHANS R., obtain new better-adapted hybrids but 2002: A premilnary study of interspecifi c future perspective for Lachenalia breed- hybrids in Lachenalia (Hyacinthaceae). Proc. 8th Int. Symp. on Flowerbulbs. Acta Hort. 570: ing have to concentrate on understanding 319–325. the relations between species and on DU TOIT E.S., ROBBERTSE P.J., NIEDERWIE- overcoming the pre and post-fertilisation SER J.G., 2004: Temperature regime during barriers. These are important problems bulb production affects foliage and fl ower that require investigation because 35% quality of Lachenalia cv. Ronina. Sci. Hort. of inter-specifi c crosses carried out by 102: 441–448. DUNCAN G.D., 1988: The Lachenalia Handbo- ARC-Roodplaat resulted in production ok. National Botanical Gardens, Cape Town. of non-viable seeds. Better-adapted hy- DUNCAN G.D., 1996: Four new species and one brids should be characterized by higher new subspecies of Lachenalia (Hyacinthaceae) production rates, increased longevity from arid areas of South Africa. Bothalia 26: and general difference from any current 1–9. hybrid, that means new colour and fl ower ENGELBRECHT G.M., PREEZ C.C., DU SPIES form (Kleynhans, 2006). Lachenalia can J.J., 2008: Response of Lachenalia growing in soil to nitrogen fertilisation during the pot plant become a welcome novelty for inter- phase. S. Afr. J. Plant Soil 25(2): 92–98. national fl oriculture market which still HELME N.A., TRINDER-SMITH T.H., 2006: The requires new products. The cut fl ower endemic fl ora of the Cape Peninsula, South production is a very important part of Africa. S. Afr. J. Bot. 72: 2005–2010. bulb forcing (De Hertogh and Le Nard, KLEYNHANS R., NIEDERWIESER J.G., 1993) but it is necessary for growers to HANCKE F.L., 2002: Lachenalia: development and commercialization of a new fl ower bulb be given a precise description of growth crop. Proc. 8th Int. Symp. on Flowerbulbs. Acta and development cycle in order to control Hort. 570: 81–85. fl owering. KLEYNHANS R., 2006: Lachenalia, spp. In Flo- wer Breeding & Genetics: Issues, Challenges, and Opportunities for the 21st Century: 491– REFERENCES –516. Ed. N.O. Anderson. Springer. NDOU A.M., NIEDERWIESER J.G., ROB- AULT J.R., 1995: In vitro rooting and greenhouse BERTSE P.J., 2002: Effect of leaf-section acclimatization of Lachenalia shoots. 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Lachenalia. Proc. 8th Int. Symp. On Flower- zwana ‘African Beauty’. Do uprawy doniczkowej bulbs. Acta Hort. 570: 135–139. w Holandii cebule lachenalii są sadzone do po- ROH M.S., 2005: Flowering and infl orescence jemników od stycznia do listopada. W warunkach development of Lachenalia aloides ‘Pearsonii’ holenderskich nie udaje się uzyskać roślin kwit- as infl uenced by bulb storage and forcing tem- nących równocześnie, dlatego okazy będące w tej perature. Sci. Hort. 104: 305–323. samej fazie kwitnienia przesadza się do większych ROODBOL F., NIEDERWIESER J.G., 2002: doniczek gotowych do sprzedaży. W zależności Effects of nutrient supply on nutrient element od gatunku kwiaty lachenalii zebrane są po około content of two lachenalia cultivars. S. Afr. J. 20 w kłosach lub gronach. Płatki korony tworzą Plant Soil 19: 216–218. kształt dzwonka lub rurki, mogą być jednolitego SLABBERT M. M., NIEDERWIESER J.G., koloru lub wielobarwne, niektóre gatunki pachną. 1999: In vitro bulblet production of Lachena- W zależności od odmiany nasiona kiełkują po 2–6 lia. Plant Cell Rep. 18: 620–624. tygodniach. Optymalna temperatura kiełkowania wynosi 10–20ºC. Rośliny z rodzaju Lachenalia SOCHACKI D., 2003: Lachenalia – nowość można rozmnażać: generatywnie, przez cebule z Południowej Afryki. Hasło Ogrodnicze 7. przybyszowe, sadzonki liściowe, a także w kul- SLABBERT M.M., NIEDERWIESER J.G., 1999: turach in-vitro. Coraz częściej do masowego In vitro bulblet production of Lachenalia. Plant rozmnażania zalecane jest rozmnażanie właśnie Cell Rep. 18: 620–624. metodami kultur sterylnych, gdyż gatunki lache- VAIRA A. M., KLEYNHANS R., HAMMOND nalii często porażane są wirusem mozaiki śnied- J., 2007: First report of Freesia Sneak Virus ka (Ornithogalum Mosaic Virus, OMV). OMV infecting Lachenalia cultivars in South Africa. powoduje na roślinach szereg objawów mozaiki Plant Dis. 91(6): 770. oraz deformacje kwiatów. Stwierdzono, że wi- rus ten koncentruje się głównie w wierzchołkach Streszczenie: Lachenalia – hodowla, uprawa wzrostu cebul, dlatego do inicjacji kultur in vitro i zastosowanie nowej ozdobnej rośliny cebulowej. zaleca się używać fragmentów tkanki liściowej. Rodzaj Lachenalia (Hyacinthaceae) obejmuje 100 Niezwykle ważne jest opracowanie precyzyjnych gatunków roślin cebulowych znoszących spadki wskazówek dotyczących rozmnażania lachenalii temperatury do –5°C. Wszystkie gatunki są ende- metodą in vitro przy użyciu różnych eksplantatów, mitami występującymi na obszarach Południowej nie tylko dla poszczególnych gatunków, ale przede Afryki i Namibii ze szczególną koncentracją na wszystkim odmian, które mogą mieć ogromne terenie zachodniej części prowincji Cape. W kata- znaczenie w produkcji ogrodniczej. Rośliny z ro- logach ogrodniczych roślina ta polecana jest jako dzaju Lachenalia zachwycają swoją egzotyką, niezwykle interesująca „nowość” zarówno do kolorystyką, kształtem kwiatów i z pewnością uprawy w doniczkach, jak i do ogrodów, a także powinny wzbogacić asortyment polskiego rynku do produkcji na kwiat cięty. W 1966 roku w Agri- kwiaciarskiego, niezmiernie otwartego na nowo- cultural Research Council (ARC-Roodeplaat) roz- ści. Lachenalia jako „nowość” ma szanse osiągać poczęto program badawczy mający na celu otrzy- wyższe ceny i wpłynąć na dalszy rozwój polskiego manie nowych odmian o korzystnych walorach rynku kwiaciarskiego, co ma ogromne znaczenie dekoracyjnych, charakteryzujących się większymi w dobie konkurencji na rynkach światowych. kwiatami i liśćmi. Od momentu rozpoczęcia tego programu zarejestrowano wiele nowych odmian. Utrudnienia w szeroko zakrojonych badaniach MS. received March 6, 2009 hodowlanych były spowodowane dużą zmien- nością w obrębie rodzaju. Obecne badania mają Author’s adress: na celu uzyskanie form nadających się na kwiaty Katedra Roślin Ozdobnych, Uniwersytet Rolniczy cięte, o szerokim zakresie barw kwiatów, a tak- 29 Listopada 54, 31-425 Kraków że opracowanie całorocznej (sterowanej) metody Poland uprawy tej rośliny. Nowa seria odmian została na- e-mail: [email protected]