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.