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The effect of temperature upon intensity of colour in the coronas of cut blooms of narcissus var. Soleil d'Or
Author(s) -
SMITH W. H.,
PARKER J. C.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
annals of applied biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.677
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1744-7348
pISSN - 0003-4746
DOI - 10.1111/j.1744-7348.1966.tb04378.x
Subject(s) - darkness , narcissus , orange (colour) , horticulture , carotenoid , biology , botany , light intensity , zoology , optics , physics
SUMMARY Cut blooms of narcissus Soleil d'Or were subjected to constant temperatures ranging from 1.2° C. to 18.3° C. both in darkness and under illumination. The rate of opening of successive florets, the rate and final degree of colour development of the corona and subsequent display life were observed. Opening was negligible at 1.2° C. and 38 days were taken to open to five florets at 4.5° C. Full opening occurred in 4 days at 15.6° C. The change of colour of the corona from yellow to orange was negligible at 15.6° C, but final intensity of orange colour increased with decreasing temperatures. Temperature affected colour development both of opened and unopened florets, and after treatment at low temperature colour continued to develop when the blooms were removed to 18.3° C. The period of low‐temperature treatment giving maximum colour development was 8 days. Artificial illumination of intensity 200 ft.‐candles had little effect at 18.3° C. but it increased orange colouring at the lower temperatures. Increased orange colour whether at intermediate or low temperature was shown to be associated with a slight increase in the concentration of the total carotenoids, but more especially with greatly increased content of β‐carotene which constituted approximately 10–20% of the total carotenoids.