Temperature and light influence growth and flower production in Heliconia 'Golden Torch'

Flowering responses of Heliconia psittacorum L.f. X H. spathocircinata Aristeguieta 'Golden Torch' to temperature and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) were determined in controlled-environment conditions using a 2 X 2 factorial combination of temperature (32C day/20C night and 24C day/20C night) and PPF (475 and 710 micromoles.m-2.s-1). Temperature had no significant effect on new shoot production, with an average of 9.3 shoots per plant being produced over the 248 days of treatment. More shoots, however, were produced at the higher PPF level (10.1 compared with 8.3 shoots). The proportion of shoots the initiated flowers (85%) was similar in all treatments. The duration from shoot until inflorescence emergence was significantly less at 32C day/20C night than at 24C day/20C night (140 and 146 days, respectively) and was unaffected by PPF. This duration also was significantly affected by the interacting effects of order of shoot appearance and the number of leaves subtending the inflorescence. The second shoots to emerge had the shortest duration from shoot emergence to inflorescence emergence. The number of leaves subtending the inflorescence increased at the higher temperature and decreased as shoot order increased but was unaffected by PPF. Temperature and PPF levels influenced total leaf area at flowering, with highest areas being achieved in the high temperature low PPF combination. Acceptable flower quality with at least two, opened, well-formed, well-colored bracts was obtained in all treatments, although flower stems were taller and thicker at 32C day/20C night and these dimensions increased further with increasing order of shoot appearance. Stem diameters tended to be thinner at the lower PPF level. Overall, temperature was more dominant than light in influencing production and quality of flowers, but developmental factors associated with the order of shoot appearance also played a significant role. Flower production of 'Golden Torch' should be feasible in temperature-controlled glasshouses in temperate regions where mean air temperatures can be maintained at approximately 20C.