AUBURN UNIVERSITY ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION AUBURN UNIVERSITY, ALABAMA GALE A. BUCHANAN. DIRECTOR BULLETIN 468 (Revised) DECEMBER 1984 yn Evaluation Scheduling of Snapdragon Cultivar. CONTENTS Page 6 GROUP I CULTIVARS FLOWERED AT 450 F IN THE WINTER... 6 GROUP I CULTIVARS FLOWERED AT 62 ° F IN THE WINTER .... GROUP II CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE WINTER.............. 8 12 GROUP III CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE SPRING ............. GROUP III CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE FALL................ 15 GROUP III CULTIVARS FLOWERED OUT OF SEASON IN THE 19 WINTER .................................................................. GROUP IV CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE SUMMER............ 21 24 SCHEDULING .............................................................. 27 LITERATURE CITED .................................................... REVISED 3M, DECEMBER 1984 Information contained herein is available to all persons without regard to race, color, sex, or national origin. EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS KENNETH C. SANDERSON and WILLIS C. MARTIN1 M ARKET DEMANDS, low energy costs of production (13), and recent advances in breeding and culture have made the snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus L., a promising florist crop for Alabama. A summer-flowering perennial native to the Mediterranean, the snapdragon was developed into a successful cool temperature greenhouse crop in the early 1900's; however, few available cultivars grew satisfactorily under Alabama's high light intensity and temperature conditions. In the early 1950's breeders recognized that the growth of snapdragon cultivars was genetically dependent on temperature, light intensity, and photoperiod. High temperature, high light intensity, and long photoperiod cultivars were developed, and snapdragons were classified into four response groups based on their optimum flowering period for commercial production under conditions in the Northern United States (1). Group I cultivars produce quality stems and spikes at 50°F minimum temperatures under low-light intensity and short days of mid-winter. Group II cultivars are best adapted to light and temperature conditions occurring between February 15 and May 10. Group III cultivars produce quality stems and spikes during the late spring and fall. Group IV cultivars do best under high temperature, high light intensity, and long days normally experienced during the summer months. 'Professor and Research Associate, respectively, Department of Horticulture. 4 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION By using appropriate cultivars, year-round production of snapdragons has been achieved in most of the major producing areas: Colorado (5), Florida (7,8), Michigan (4), Missouri (9,10,11), Oklahoma (6), and Pennsylvania (14). Most of the information on cultural practices, cultivars, and scheduling is for year-round production in greenhouses in the Northern United States or cloth houses in Florida. Cultural information and schedules are lacking for Southern culture. This report considers 17 years of research on the performance of various cultivars from the four groups grown under greenhouse conditions at the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station of Auburn University. All four groups of cultivars were tested. Group III cultivars were also evaluated for year-round culture; all other groups, with some exceptions, were usually scheduled to flower during their optimum flowering period as outlined by Ball (3). Group I cultivars were evaluated in an experiment conducted in a low temperature (thermostat at 45°F) plastic greenhouse in 1969 and in a glass greenhouse at a minimum night temperature of 62 °F in 1976 and 1980. All other cultivar groups were grown in a glasshouse at a minimum night temperature of 62 F when possible. The glasshouse was air-cooled by a fan and pad system with a thermostat set at 720F from May to October. Plants were grown in full sun from October to May and shaded lightly (approximately 10 percent) from May to October. Monthly mean temperature, solar radiation, and daylength for Auburn, Alabama, latitude 32034' N, longitude 85o31 ' W, taken from Auburn University micrometeorological data (2), are shown in table 1. Seeds of the various cultivars were sown in peat-lite medium (Jiffy Mix from Jiffy Products of America, West Chicago, Illinois) and mist propagated at 70°F approximately 3 to 4 weeks prior to transplanting into a steam pasteurized 1:1:1 ratio (by volume) of soil, peat, perlite medium. Plants were spaced 16 square inches per plant and grown single stem. The seedlings were treated at transplanting with TerrachlorTM at the rate of 8 ounces per 100 gallons to prevent disease. All crops received borax at the rate of 1/2 ounce per 100 square feet to prevent boron deficiency. Fertilization generally consisted of 2 pounds of either 25-10-10 or 20-20-20 per 100 gallons every 2 weeks. EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS TABLE 1. MONTHLY MEAN TEMPERATURE, SOLAR RADIATION, AND DAYLENGTH, AUBURN, ALABAMA, LATITUDE 32034/ N, LONGITUDE 85031' W Temperature' 5 Month Average daily maximum Deg. F 57.1 60.3 66.6 76.4 84.3 89.8 90.9 90.9 86.5 78.0 66.9 58.5 Temperatur Average daily minimum Deg. F 34.9 36.7 42.4 51.0 58.5 65.6 68.3 67.7 63.2 52.3 41.3 35.5 Solar 2 radiation 1972 Langleys 5898 6823 10427 11696 15911 15607 14262 13650 11656 10009 6635 5187 Daylength s sunrise to sunset Hr.:min. 10:17 11:00 12:00 13:03 13:52 14:13 14:02 13:21 12:21 11:17 10:27 10:04 January .......................... February ......................... March ............................ April ................................ May ................................. June ................................. July .................................. August ............................ September .......................... October .......................... November ....................... December ....................... 'Means for 1941-1970. 2 Mean for 1982. s Mean calculated from monthly range. Sunrise and sunset are considered to occur when the upper edge of the disk of the sun appears to be exactly on the horizon, with normal atmospheric conditions, at zero elevation above the earth's surface in a level region. A randomized block design with two replications of a minimum of 100 plants of each cultivar per replication was used in most experiments. Growth data were taken on 20 plants at harvest, that is when one-third to one-half of the florets were open. Plants were harvested by cutting stems at the soil line. Data included date of harvest, plant height and fresh weight, spike length, and stem strength. Stem strength was determined by stripping five plants of all leaves, cutting 20 inches of stem from directly below the last floret, weighing the stripped stem sections, and calculating an index of grams per centimeter. Sanderson and Link (12) found that top grade snapdragons (averaging a 3.2 quality grade out of a possible 4.0) had grams per centimeter ratios ranging from 0.17 to 0.22. Rogers (9) used a different sampling method to assert that 0.4 gram per centimeter is the lowest grams per centimeter ratio for usable stems. 6 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION F GROUP I CULTIVARS FLOWERED AT 45 0 IN THE WINTER Group I (winter-flowering in the North) snapdragons are not recommended for culture in the South because they usually produce short, poor quality, flower spikes. Some Alabama growers grow them because they offer a large selection of cultivars and a wide range of colors. Most of these growers have used flexible plastic greenhouses for their culture. Such greenhouses provide low temperatures; soil temperatures are especially low since the plants are often grown on the ground. In one Auburn test, a flexible plastic greenhouse equipped with ground benches was used to test four Group I cultivars. Ground beds containing a 1:1:1 ratio (by volume) of soil, perlite, and sphagnum peat moss medium treated with Vapam at the rate of 1 quart per 100 square feet were used. The house was not covered with plastic at the time of Vapam application. Seedlings of the cultivars Vulcan, Yosemite, Rio Grande, and Zion were planted in benches approximately 18 feet long. Fertilization consisted of a preplant application of 2 pounds of Osmocote 14-14-14 fertilizer per 100 square feet. During the unusually cold winter, plant level temperatures inside ranged from 35 ° to 50°F with the thermostat set at 45°F at night. Flowering occurred in 103 days for Zion and 110 days for Vulcan. Vulcan produced plants with the greatest fresh weight, height, and strongest stem (grams per centimeter of stem), table 2. Rio Grande weighed less than the other cultivars tested. Mean height and flower spike length of Zion were the shortest in the experiment. Rio Grande had the lowest grams per centimeter of stem determinations in the experiment, but this ratio was higher than ratios found acceptable by Sanderson and Link (12). GROUP I CULTIVARS FLOWERED AT 62°F IN THE WINTER Flowering time for Group I cultivars at 620F minimum night temperature, during January 1 to March 30, averaged 61 days, table 3. Minneapolis flowered earliest (56 days) and Moscow flowered latest (66 days) of the Group I cultivars. All cultivars flowered within a week of the mean flowering time. m TABLE 2. EVALUATION OF GROUP I CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS GROWN IN A POLYETHYLENE PLASTIC GREENHOUSE AT 450 F (MINIMUM NIGHT TEMPERATURE WHEN CONTROLLED) 2 -I Numberofa Cultivar Number of times tested Year Year tested Bench Bench date Flowering Flowering date Number ofdays from fm bench to flowering 109 110 109 103 108 Plant height height In. Plant weight eight Oz. 3.2 4.3 3.9 3.8 3.8 lSpike h length In. 10.4 10.4 11.3 9.6 10.4 Stem n ( Source a strength (originator) g/cm 0.296 .412 .336 .332 .344 C Color z o Rio Grande............ Vulcan ............ Yosemite ............... Zion ................... Mean ..................... - 1 1 1 1 69-70 69-70 69-70 69-70 - Dec. Dec. Dec. Dec. - 18 18 18 18 Apr. Apr. Apr. Mar. - 6 7 6 31 48.9 51.3 48.8 47.8 49.2 Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Pan Amer. - Lemon yellow Wine red Medium pink Lemon yellow - m Z O "11 TABLE 3. EVALUATION OF GROUP I CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWEREDJANUARY ° 1 TO MARCH 30 AT MINIMUM NIGHT TEMPERATURE OF Z 0 62 F Cultivar Number of timested Year tested Bench date Flowering date Number o days Plant benchfrtoheight floweringC In. Plant weight Spike length Stem Source strength (originator) ColorC) Colorz Oz. 2.1 1.5 1.5 1.9 1.6 2.0 1.8 1.8 In. 6.9 9.0 8.8 7.8 9.2 6.9 8.5 8.2 g/cm 0.154 .114 .161 .146 .138 .198 .111 .146 Cheyenne ............. Michigan ............ Minneapolis........... Moscow ................ Oakland ............... Oregon ................ Washington .......... Group I mean ....... 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 - 80 80 80 80 76,80 80 80 - Jan. 25 Jan. 25 Jan. 25 Jan. 25 Jan. 311 Jan. 25 Jan. 25 - Mar. 27 Mar.24 Mar. 24 Mar. 30 Mar. 27' Mar. 23 Mar. 29 - 63 60 56 66 57 59 65 61 39.6 38.0 37.2 38.1 37.3 39.4 43.7 39.0 Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder -- Yellow Bronze Pink Red White Orchid Rose Pink C I Averages of more than one trial. 8 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Average plant height of Group I cultivars was 39.0 inches. Washington (43.7 inches) and Minneapolis (37.2 inches) produced the tallest and shortest plants, respectively. Cheyenne, Oregon, and Washington were equal to or taller than the cultivar mean. Group I plants averaged 1.8 ounces and ranged from 1.5 ounces (Michigan and Minneapolis) to 2.1 ounces (Cheyenne). Mean cultivar weight was equalled or exceeded by Cheyenne, Moscow, Oregon, and Washington plants. Oakland plants produced the largest (9.2 inches) flower spikes, whereas Cheyenne and Oregon had the shortest (6.9 inches) flower spikes. The average flower spike length of 8.2 inches was exceeded by Michigan, Minneapolis, Oakland, and Washington plants. The mean grams per centimeter ratio for Group I cultivars flowered at 620°F was 0.146. The lowest and highest ratios were produced by Washington (0.111) and Oregon (0.198), respectively. Equalling or exceeding the cultivar grams per centimeter ratio were Cheyenne, Minneapolis, Moscow, and Oregon plants. None of the Group I cultivars tested equalled or exceeded the mean for all four growth parameters measured. Cheyenne, Oregon, and Washington plants equalled or exceeded the mean for three growth parameters. Minneapolis and Moscow plants equalled or exceeded the cultivar mean for two growth parameters. GROUP II CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE WINTER Group II cultivars averaged 69 days from benching to flowering, table 4. Oakland plants averaged 52 days, whereas Phoenix plants flowered in 80 days. Butterfly White II and McKinley plants flowered over a week later than the Group II average flowering time and Madison and Oakland plants flowered over a week earlier than the average. Plant height ranged from 20.5 inches for White No. 133 to 47.0 inches for Christina. The mean height of 32.5 inches was equalled or exceeded by Baltimore, Butterfly White II, California, Christina, Debutante, Hercules, Kodiak, Lavender EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 9 Lady, Lavender No. 54, McKinley, Montezuma, Phoenix, Rainer, Rocky Mountain, Madison, Oakland, Treasure Chest, and Tennessee. Group II plant weight averaged 1.9 ounces and ranged from 1.4 ounces for Madison to 2.4 ounces for Crimson No. 101 plants. Cultivars that generally equalled or exceeded the mean plant weight were Baltimore, Bronze Scarlet No. 147, Bronze Yellow No. 163, Butterfly White II, California, Crimson No. 101, Hercules, Indiana, Lavender Lady, Lavender No. 54, Kodiak, McKinley, Montezuma, Phoenix, Pink No. 149, Rainer, Red No. 148, Rocky Mountain, Swaps, Tennessee, and Yellow No. 117. Phoenix and Butterfly White II had the largest flower spikes (8.9 inches), and Crimson No. 101 produced the smallest flower spikes (4.4 inches). Group II cultivars averaged flower spikes of 7.2 inches. Baltimore, Butterfly White II, Bronze Scarlet No. 147, Bronze Yellow No. 163, California, Christina, Indiana, McKinley, Montezuma, Phoenix, Red No. 148, Rocky Mountain, Oakland, Tennessee, Twenty Grand, White No. 133, and Yellow No. 150 generally produced flower spikes equalling or exceeding the mean spike length. Stem strength of Group II cultivars averaged 0.172 gram per centimeter and ranged from 0.128 gram (Oakland and Lavender Lady) to 0.233 gram per centimeter (Rocky Mountain). Baltimore, Bronze Yellow No. 163, California, Crimson No. 101, Jackpot, Kodiak, Lavender No. 54, McKinley, Phoenix, Pink No. 149, Rocky Mountain, Swaps, Yellow No. 117, and Yellow No. 150 plants had grams per centimeter values equalling or exceeding the cultivar mean for stem strength. Considering all four of the parameters measured, Baltimore, McKinley, Phoenix, Rocky Mountain, and California plants equalled or exceeded the cultivar mean; therefore, these cultivars should be considered excellent Group II cultivars. Butterfly White II, Bronze Yellow No. 163, Lavender No. 54, Montezuma, Kodiak, and Tennessee plants generally equalled or exceeded the cultivar mean in three parameters. Bronze Scarlet No. 147, Crimson No. 101, Indiana, Pink No. 149, Red No. 148, Swaps, Lavender Lady, Christina, Hercules, Oakland, and Yellow No. 117 plants generally scored average or better in two parameters. 0 TABLE 4. EVALUATION OF GROUP II CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED DECEMBER I TO APRIL 30 AT A MINIMUM NIGHT TEMPERATURE OF 620 F Cultivar Nuofimes Year Ntmer Year ested tested Benchof Flowering Bench date date Number days from bench to flowering 74 73 66 78 72 71 76 61 72 76 68 69 71 76 59 Plant h height In. Baltimore .......... Bronze Scarlet No. 147 ............. Bronze Yellow No. 163 ............. Butterfly White II California .......... Christina .......... Crimson No. 101 Debutante ............ Hercules .............. Indiana ................ Jackpot ................. Kodiak ............ Lavender Lady ..... Lavender No. 54... Madison ............... 1 1 1 3 3 3 1 3 3 2 3 2 3 1 1 83 68 68 82,82,82 82,82,82 82,82,82 68 82,82,82 82,82,82 68 67,68,69 69 82,82,82 68 76 Feb. 8 Jan. 12 Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. Jan. 12 16 161 161 12 311 Apr. 21 Mar. 26 Mar. Apr. Mar. Mar. Mar. Apr. 19 3 28' 271 29 1' 46.6 25.3 24.0 41.0 38.9 47.0 30.3 35.6 41.8 26.2 24.9 34.6 37.3 33.4 34.3 Plant weight Oz. 2.3 1.8 1.8 2.1 1.9 1.6 2.4 1.5 1.9 1.9 1.7 1.9 1.9 1.8 1.4 Spike length length In. 8.2 7.2 7.8 8.9 8.0 7.3 4.4 6.9 6.5 7.6 6.7 6.6 6.9 6.9 5.7 Stem Source strength (originator) strength (origator) g/cm 0.188 .160 .174 .168 .196 .145 .198 .140 .144 .151 .181 .175 .128 .204 .160 Yoder Sakata Sakata Goldsmith Yoder Pan Amer. Sakata Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Yoder Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Sakata Yoder Deep pink Unusual blendbronze scarlet Unusual blendbronze yellow White Paper white Light pink Crimson Medium pink Strong light pink Light rose pink Rose pinkx White Deep rosy layender Muted lavender Dark pink Continued Color 3 5 C Jan. 161 Jan. 151 Jan. 91 Oct. 281 Jan. 16' Jan. 12 Feb. 6 Mar. 281 Apr. 11 Mar. 171 Jan. 51 Mar. 25' Mar. 29 Apr. 6 r V M m Z N .I 1o z r- TABLE 4 (Continued). EVALUATION OF GROUP II CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED DECEMBER 0 TEMPERATURE OF 62 F 1 TO APRIL 30 AT A MINIMUM NIGHT Z Number Number Year Cultivar tested of times tested Bench date Flowering date of days from bench to flowering 79 67 80 64 68 64 72 52 73 69 75 64 66 66 66 66 69 C Plant height In. Plant weight Oz. 2.1 1.8 1.9 2.0 1.8 1.9 2.1 1.5 2.0 1.6 2.0 1.6 1.5 1.5 1.8 1.7 1.9 z Spike length In. 7.5 8.5 8.9 7.0 7.0 7.3 7.3 8.7 7.0 6.7 8.3 8.2 6.3 7.9 5.1 7.1 7.2 Stem Source strength (originator) g /cm 0.224 .166 .196 .178 .163 .167 .233 .128 .192 .157 .148 .165 .156 .152 .200 .184 .172 C Color McKinley .......... 2 69 Jan. Montezuma .......... 6 9,80, 82 ,82 ,8 2 an. 6 Phoenix .............. 1 69 ec. Pink No. 149 ..... 2 68 Jan. Rainer ............. 4 82,82,82,83 Jan. Red No. 148 ......... 2 68 Jan. Rocky Mountain .. 5 Oakland ........... 1 Swaps .................... 1 Treasure Chest .... 3 Tennessee ............ 1 Twenty Grand ..... 2 White No. 102 .... 1 White No. 133 ..... 1 Yellow No. 117 .... 1 Yellow No. 150 .... 1 Group II mean .....- 4' 141 27 151 161 151 Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. Mar. 241 21' 17 201 241 20' 32.7 36.9 42.6 25.7 37.5 24.1 36.1 34.0 26.3 36.8 43.8 23.3 20.6 20.5 23.7 22.0 32.5 Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Pan Amer. Sakata Pan Amer. Sakata Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Sakata Sakata Sakata Sakata - 68,69,80 76 67-68 82,82,82 83 68 67-68 67-68 67-68 67-68 - Feb. 281 Feb. 6 Jan. 12 Jan. 311 Feb. 8 Jan. 15' Jan. 12 Jan. 12 Jan. 12 Jan. 12 - May 91 Mar. 30 Mar. 26 Apr. 91 Apr. 22 Mar. 201 Mar. 19 Mar. 19 Mar. 19 Mar. 19 - Ivory white Deep yellow Light yellow Light rose pink White Red Medium to salmon pink Paner white Ye low Medium rose Red Ivory white Pure whiteD Pure whiteN Medium yellow Deep yellow - O -n D 0 co 0 O c 1Dates given are averages of more than one trial. 12 12 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION ALABAA AGRICULTRLEPIMNSAIO GROUP III CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE SPRING Three Group IV cultivars (Veracruz, Dark Star, and June Bride) were tested in the spring flowering period. All three cultivars flowered earlier than most Group III cultivars; however, their growth and quality generally were below that of the Group III mean, table 5. Time from benching to flowering averaged 69 days for spring-grown Group III cultivars, with a range from 48 days (Panama) to 80 days (Laurel, Potomac Ivory, and Winchester), table 5. Cultivars that flowered approximately 1 week or more earlier than the Group III mean were Hawaii, Nevada, Panama, Dark Star (IV), June Bride (IV), Pan American Summer Pink, Potomac White, and Veracruz (IV). Atlanta, Double Azalea White, Laurel, Potomac Ivory, New Mexico, Winchester, and Virginia plants flowered a week or more later than the Group III mean. Plant height ranged from 32.2 inches (Nevada) to 54.6 inches (St. Louis), with a mean of 43.8 inches. Plants of Atlanta, Butterfly Pink III, Columbia, Laurel, Missouri, New Mexico, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, Potomac Yellow, Roanoke, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Winchester were taller than the group mean. Kansas and Virginia plants came close to equalling or exceeding the height for this cultivar group. Fresh weight of Potomac Ivory (3.8 ounces) was the highest of any Group III cultivars and was more than three times that of the lightest cultivar, Roanoke (1.1 ounces). The plant fresh weight of the cultivars averaged 2.4 ounces. Butterfly Light Pink III, Butterfly Pink III, Butterfly White, Double Azalea White, Laurel, Missouri, New Mexico, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, Potomac Yellow, San Francisco, Tucson, Winchester, and Virginia plants generally equalled or exceeded the group mean plant fresh weight. With a Group III cultivar mean of 8.6 inches, spike length ranged from 6.2 inches (Double Azalea White and Hawaii) to 10.7 inches (Potomac Ivory). Spike length for Columbia, Kansas, Laurel, Missouri, New Orleans, New Mexico, Panama, Pan American Summer Pink, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, Roanoke, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tampico, Tucson, Winchester, Virginia, and June Bride essentially equalled or exceeded the mean. TABLE 5. EVALUATION OF GROUP III CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED IN THE SPRING, MAY 1-JUNE 30 m Ir c Cultivar Number oftimes Year tested Bench date Flowering date Number of days befrmto flowering Plant height In. 48.4 41.2 43.9 40.8 48.8 38.8 36.9 43.6 38.9 49.2 48.7 32.2 42.5 48.2 37.1 37.4 50.8 47.8 Plant weight Oz. 1.6 2.8 3.1 2.3 2.0 2.6 1.9 2.1 1.9 2.8 3.0 1.3 1.9 2.7 1.7 1.5 3.8 2.7 Spike length In. 7.8 6.6 8.1 7.3 8.9 6.2 6.2 8.5 7.6 8.7 8.7 7.0 9.3 9.8 8.6 8.6 10.7 8.8 Stem Source strength (originator) g/ cm 0.180 .181 .189 .180 .252 .213 missing .192 .182 .224 .268 missing .220 .184 .167 missing .409 .25S Color z z D Co Z m n rn c v rz Atlanta ............. Butterfly Light Pink III ........... Butterfly Pink III Butterfly White .... Columbia ........... Double Azalea White ............. Hawaii ............... Kansas ................ Kentucky .......... Laurel ............ Missouri ................ Nevada ................ New Orleans ........ New Mexico ......... Panama ................ Pan American Pink Potomac Ivory ...... Potomac Pink ....... Potomac White .... Potomac Yellow ... Roanoke .............. San Francisco ....... St. Louis ............... Tampico ............... 1 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 5 2 4 1 3 1 2 81 73 69,73 73 76,81 73 68 83 77,83 83 81 67 81 81,83 70 68 73 66,68,73,79 66,68 67,68,71,83 81 71,79,81 76 67,68,83 Feb. 18 Feb. 17' Jan. 201 Feb. 71 Feb. 121 Feb. 171 Apr. 5 Feb. 8 Feb. 261 Feb. 8 Feb. 18 Mar. 28 Feb. 18 Feb. 131 May 12 Apr. 5 Feb. 171 Mar. 151 Mar. 19' Feb. 281 Feb. 18 Mar. 71 Feb. 6 Mar. 41 May 6 May Apr. May Apr. 21 261 2 171 76 74 72 73 65 77 59 74 69 80 69 55 68 76 48 55 80 69 59 72 67 62 73 69 Yoder Goldsmith Goldsmith Goldsmith Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Pan AmrWinkcr ". ikler Winkler Winkler Yoder Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Pink Light pink Pink White Rose pink White Ivory Orange bronze Apple blossom pink Deep pink Dark yellow Yellow White Deep bronze White Medium light pink ivory Medium pink May 51 June 3 Apr. 19 May 61 Apr. 25 Apr. 27 May 22 Apr. 27 Apr. 281 June 29 May 30 May 7' May 211 May 161 May 10' Apr. 25 May 71 Apr. 19 May 12' -n Z D o v 0 0 Iz -I 0 c Co 41.1 44.9 45.0 46.7 54.6 41.3 2.2 2.6 1.1 2.7 2.2 2.1 9.7 8.1 10.3 10.3 8.6 8.5 .295 .266 .136 .235 .338 .221 White Medium yellow White Paper white Deep yellow Medium yellow Continued I TABLE 5 (Continued). EVALUATION OF GROUP III CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED IN THE SPRING, MAY 1 -JUNE 30 Color Number ftmber Year Nutvr tettested Bench Flowering fomdas Plant Plant Spike Stem Source dae at bench to flowering height In. weight Oz. 2.8 3.6 1.8 2.4 1.6 2.0 2.3 2.4 length In. 8.8 10.4 7.8 9.7 6.3 9.6 8.5 8.6 strength (originator) g/ cm 0.327 .305 .244 .166 .269 .159 .232 .233 Pan Amer. Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. - Tucson .............. Winchester......... . ... ... ... Veracruz 2 . Virginia.............. 2 . .. .. .. . 2 . June Bride . Dark Star 1 2 1 3 1 71 Feb. 11 7 1,83 Feb. 7' 67 Mar. 28 77,81,83 Feb. 20' 67 Mar. 28 Apr. 17 Apr. 28' May 22 May 10' May 22 65 80 55 79 55 . .... ... . ... - 1 69 - Apr. 2 - June 17 - 45 67 69 Overall mean .... GroupII mean 39.2 50.4 35.6 43.6 32.4 39.0 43.0 43.8 Medium lavender Light rose pink Deep yellow Paper white Medium yellow Pure white - 0 C 2Normally a Group IV cultivar, tested as a Group III, not included in Grou; ' Average dates for trials. m m m z 0 z EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 15 Grams per centimeter ratios for Group III cultivars flowered in the spring ranged from 0.136 (Roanoke) to 0.409 (Potomac Ivory). Columbia, Missouri, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, Potomac Yellow, San Francisco, St. Louis, Tucson, Winchester, Vera Cruz (IV), and Dark Star (IV) plants had grams per centimeter ratios which exceeded the mean of 0.233 for this cultivar group. In summarizing Group III cultivars flowered in the spring, Missouri, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, San Francisco, and Winchester plants scored high in all the growth parameters measured. Columbia, Laurel, New Mexico, Potomac Yellow, St. Louis, and Tucson plants generally met or exceeded all but one of the mean Group III growth parameters. Generally meeting just two of the growth parameters measured were Butterfly Pink III, Butterfly White, Potomac White, Roanoke, and Virginia. GROUP II CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE FALL Several Group II and IV cultivars were tested along with the Group III cultivars for fall flowering. When the spike length and grams per centimeter data for these cultivars were compared with similar Group III data, the means exceeded those of the Group III cultivars alone, table 6. Group III cultivars flowered in approximately 58 days in the fall. Flowering time ranged from 48 days for Panama plants to 75 days for Light Pink Butterfly plants. Varying from the Group III mean by more than 7 days were the earlier-flowering North Carolina and Panama plants and the late-flowering Kentucky, Light Pink Butterfly, New Mexico, and Virginia plants. Mean plant height for fall-flowering Group III cultivars was 40.2 inches. Plant heights ranged from 30.7 inches (Bronze Butterfly) to 51.8 inches (New Mexico). Georgia (IV), Idaho, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma (IV), Potomac Ivory, Potomac Orange, Potomac Pink, Potomac Yellow, Roanoke, San Francisco, Tampico, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia (II), and Winchester equalled or exceeded the Group III mean. TABLE 6. EVALUATION OF GROUP III CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED IN THF FAIL, OCTOBER 1-NOVEMBER 30 Number Cultiareo tested times tete de datoen dtoeheight days benchae flowering 61 52 53 of Plant Plant weight Spike length Stem strength Source (originator) Color In. 1 Baltimore .............. .. 1 Bronze Butterfly..... 3 .... 1 Dark Star ... Double Azalea 1 Bronze ............ Double Azalea 1 Pink.................... Double Azalea Yellow................ 1 Double Azalea White.............. 1 3 . ... ... ... Georgia 3 . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 Houston . Idaho................ . 1 2 . ... ... ... . 1 Illinois .. 1 Oz. 1.7 1.6 2.1 1.6 1.9 1.6 2.3 2.5 1.2 2.2 1.7 2.8 2.5 In. 6.6 7.1 7.6 5.8 5.8 6.0 6.4 9.5 7.5 7.6 8.7 9.6 6.7 g/ cm 0.218 .132 .276 .216 .208 .152 .152 .247 .115 .208 .227 .285 .235 68 74 68 74 74 74 74 68 74 68 68 68 Aug. 29 Sept. 16 Aug. 29 Sept. 16 Sept. 16 Sept. 16 Sept. Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 16 24 10 29 29 Oct. 29 Nov. 7 Oct. 21 39.7 30.7 36.4 38.0 35.4 32.2 38.8 41.2 35.0 43.1 34.0 38.3 44.9 Yoder Goldsmith Yoder Goldsmith Goldsmith Goldsmith Goldsmith Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Nov. 17 Nov. 20 Nov. 11 Nov. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. 17 20 2 24 24 61 64 55 61 57 53 56 56 51 Deep pink Light bronze Medium yellow Med. bronze double Med. pink double Med. yellow double White double Light pink Paper white Light pink Medium pink Pure white C C 3. . . . . . . . . June Bride . Aug. 29 Oct. 19 Kentucky ........... 3 Kodiak .............. 1 Light Pink Butter1 fly .......... Maryland Apple-. . . . . ... . blossom 2 . 2 Maryland Rouge Missouri.............. 3 . . . . . .. . Monterey New Mexico ..... North Carolina 1 1 1 1 1 1 74,82 68 74 68 68 68 68 82 Sept. 5' Aug. 29 Sept. 16 Aug. Aug. Aug. Aug. 29 29 29 29 Nov. 111 Oct. 21 Nov. 30 Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. 23 24 30 20 68 53 75 55 56 62 52 68 49 32.3 35.3 33.9 32.2 36.3 37.4 51.8 43.3 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.9 1.6 2.2 2.6 2.2 7.7 3.7 8.4 6.2 7.2 10.0 10.0 9.1 .175 .120 .204 .218 missing .274 .168 .199 Pan Amer. Goldsmith Winkler Winkler Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Light pink White rn Aug. 25 Nov. 1 68 Aug. 29 Oct. 17 Light pink Light rose flecked with white Red Intense yellow Pure white Deep bronze Light rose pink Continued m m m z 0 z m w" rC c TABLE 6 (Continued). EVALUATION OF GROUP III CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED IN THE FALL, OCTOBER 1-NOVEMBER 30 a 0 Cultivar Number of times Year Bench Flowering Year Bench Flowering Number of days from flowering Plant height In. Plant weight Oz. 2.9 2.0 1.9 2.3 2.0 1.8 1.8 2.6 1.9 1.7 1.8 1.5 2.4 2.4 2.2 1.8 1.8 2.0 2.0 2.0 Spike length In. 9.0 8.7 5.1 9.2 8.8 8.0 7.8 9.0 6.9 9.1 8.3 6.8 8.9 7.6 9.3 5.8 6.1 7.8 7.7 7.4 Stem Source strength (originator) g/cm 0.309 .210 .140 .240 missing .211 .169 .220 .260 .162 .153 .096 .276 .179 .213 .140 .170 .284 .204 .191 z Color z v C m 0 .. Oklahoma Panama ................. Pink Butterfly ....... Potomac Ivory ...... Potomac Orange .. Potomac Pink Potomac Yellow ... Roanoke ............... Rocky Mountain .. San Francisco....... Tampico .......... Tennessee ......... .. Veracruz ... . . . ..... Virginia ................ 2 West Virginia ...... White Butterfly ... Winchester ........... Yellow Butterfly ... Overall mean ........ Group III mean ... . ....... . 3 1 1 1 1 4 2 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 5 1 - 68,73 68 74 68 68 66,68,73 68,82 74 68 71 68,82 82 69 74,82 68 74 71,72,73,82 74 - Aug. 27 Aug. 29 Sept. 16 Aug. 29 Aug. 29 Aug. 19' Aug. 27' Sept. 16 Aug. 29 Aug. 31 Aug. 27i Aug. 25 Aug. 29 Sept. 5' Aug. 29 Sept. 16 Aug. 191 Sept. 16 - Oct. Oct. Nov. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Nov. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. Oct. Nov. - 30 18 7 21 22 211 16' 11 24 23 161 20 16 131 21 7 121 7 64 48 52 53 54 63 51 55 56 53 51 56 48 70 53 52 54 52 57 58 53.0 37.7 35.9 41.8 45.7 45.7 43.5 41.7 37.8 43.1 44.5 47.8 39.6 44.0 46.6 34.8 49.8 33.8 40.0 40.2 Yoder Yoder Goldsmith Winkler Winkler Winkler Winkler Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Goldsmith Yoder Goldsmith - Deep yellow White Medium pink Ivory Rose-bronze Medium pink Medium yellow Pearl white Light pink Paper white Medium yellow Red Deep yellow White Deep yellow White Rose pink Medium yellow - (n I- rn z G) C D Co a 0 z "0 n z 0 c: o trial. Averages for more than 2 II cultivars tested oneGroup III cultivars but not included ininGroup III mean. Group as SGroup IV cultivars tested as Group III cultivars but not included Group III mean. =a 18 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION Ranging in plant weight from 1.5 ounces (Kodiak and Tennessee) to 2.6 ounces (Roanoke and New Mexico), Group III plants averaged 2.0 ounces. Generally equalling or exceeding the Group III plant weight mean were Dark Star (IV), Double Azalea White, Double Azalea Pink, Georgia (IV), Idaho, June Bride (IV), Kentucky, Maryland Rouge (II), Monterey (IV), New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma (IV), Panama, Pink Butterfly, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Orange, Roanoke, Rocky Mountain, Veracruz (IV), Virginia, West Virginia (II), and Yellow Butterfly plants. Flower spikes for Group III cultivars averaged 7.4 inches, with Light Pink Butterfly (3.7 inches) having the shortest spikes and Monterey (IV) and New Mexico (10.0 inches) having the longest spikes. Spikes of the following cultivars equalled or exceeded the Group III mean: Dark Star (IV), Georgia (IV), Houston (IV), Idaho, Illinois (II), June Bride (IV), Kodiak, Maryland Appleblossom (II), Monterey (IV), New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma (IV), Panama, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Orange, Potomac Pink, Potomac Yellow, Roanoke, San Francisco, Tampico, Veracruz (IV), Virginia, West Virginia (II), and Yellow Butterfly plants. Stem strength for fall-flowering Group III cultivars, as measured by grams per centimeter, averaged 0.191 gram per centimeter. Tennessee stems yielded the lowest (0.096) grams per centimeter ratio and Yellow Butterfly stems yielded the highest (0.284) grams per centimeter ratio for Group III cultivars. Equalling or bettering the Group III mean for grams per centimeter ratios were stems of Baltimore, Dark Star (IV), Double Azalea Bronze, Double Azalea Pink, Georgia (IV), Idaho, Illinois (II), June Bride (IV), Kentucky, Maryland Appleblossom (II), Maryland Rouge (II), Monterey (IV), North Carolina, Oklahoma (IV), Panama, Potomac Ivory, Potomac Pink, Roanoke, Rocky Mountain, Veracruz (IV), West Virginia (II), and Yellow Butterfly plants. Based on the growth parameters measured, Georgia (IV), Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma (IV), Potomac Ivory, Roanoke, and West Virginia (II) were the best cultivars tested for fall flowering. Ranking second best were Dark Star (IV), Kentucky, June Bride (IV), Monterey (IV), New Mexico, Panama, Potomac Orange, Potomac Pink, Veracruz (IV), Virginia, EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 19 and Yellow Butterfly plants. Stem strength data were not available on Potomac Orange, therefore this cultivar had to be ranked a second best cultivar. Illinois (II), Maryland Appleblossom (II), Potomac Yellow, Rocky Mountain, San Francisco, and Tampico plants generally equalled or exceeded the Group III cultivar means for two of the four growth parameters measured for fall flowering. GROUP III CULTIVARS FLOWERED OUT OF SEASON IN THE WINTER Flowering time for Group III cultivars flowered out of season averaged 98 days, table 7. Potomac Pink plants required the longest time (115 days) and San Francisco plants required the shortest time (81 days). San Francisco and Virginia plants flowered more than a week earlier than the group mean, whereas Potomac Pink, Potomac White, and Potomac Yellow plants flowered more than a week later than the Group III mean. Missouri plants were the tallest (56.2 inches) and Tucson plants were the shortest (43.1 inches) of all the Group III cultivars flowered out of season. Equalling or exceeding the mean height for Group III cultivars flowered out of season were Baltimore, Kansas, Laurel, Missouri, Potomac Yellow, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, Roanoke, and Winchester. Out of season Group III cultivars had a mean plant fresh weight of 2.9 ounces. Plant weights ranged from 1.9 ounces (Potomac Yellow, Rainer, and Tucson plants) to 4.2 ounces (Pan American Summer Pink plants). The fresh weight of Kansas, Kentucky, Laurel, New Mexico, Pan American Summer Pink, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, Tampico, Tennessee, and Winchester plants equalled or exceeded the mean fresh weight for all cultivars tested. Kansas plants produced the largest (10.0 inches) flower spikes, whereas Tucson plants had the shortest (6.1 inches) flower spikes. Spikes of Kansas, Kentucky, New Mexico, Pan American Summer Pink, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, Tennessee, Virginia, and Winchester equalled or exceeded the mean spike length of 7.6 inches. TABLE 7. EVALUATION OF GROUP III CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED OUT OF SEASON IN THE WINTER AT A MINIMUM NIGHT TEMPERATURE OF 620 F Number Year Cultivar tested timested of tested Bench date Flowering date Number f days bench to bench to flowering 94 96 98 97 96 101 94 106 115 109 94 98 81 100 98 97 105 91 99 98 Plant height In. Plant weight Oz. 2.7 3.3 4.0 3.1 2.7 3.6 4.2 1.9 3.8 3.2 1.9 2.3 2.0 3.0 3.1 2.7 1.9 2.4 3.8 2.9 Spike length In. 7.3 10.0 8.2 7.2 6.3 7.6 8.4 6.6 8.7 8.4 6.4 6.8 7.4 7.4 7.7 7.4 6.1 7.7 9.0 7.6 Stem Source strength (originator) g / cm 0.192 .260 .304 .208 .281 .262 .503 .320 .275 .264 .144 .184 .197 .239 .232 .168 .203 .171 .272 .246 Color Baltimore ........... Kansas ................... Kentucky .......... Laurel ............ Missouri ............. New Mexico ......... Pan American Summer Pink ... Potomac Yellow Potomac Pink .... Potomac White .. Rainer ............... Roanoke ............. San Francisco ..... Tampico ......... Tennessee ........ Treasure Chest .. Tucson .............. Virginia ............. Winchester ......... Mean ..................- 1 3 1 1 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 1 2 1 83 69,70,83 83 83 79 79,83 69 83 66,67 67 83 79 79 70,83 83 83 70 79,83 83 - Nov. 17 Dec. 3S Nov. 17 Nov. 17 Oct. 24 Nov. 51 Dec. Nov. Nov. Nov. Nov. Oct. Oct. Oct. Nov. Nov. Feb. 18 Mar. 7' Feb. 22 Feb. 21 Feb. 6 Feb. 141 54.7 51.4 49.6 54.1 56.2 48.2 46.3 56.0 51.9 51.1 47.9 52.2 48.7 49.7 45.3 47.5 43.1 47.3 53.4 50.2 Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Winkler Winkler Winkler Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder - Deep pink Red Light pink Dark pink Dark yellow Deep bronze Pink Medium yellow Medium pink White White White WhiteM Medium yellow Red Rose Medium lavender White Rose Pink - 16 Mar. 20 17 Feb. 25 16' Mar. 111 14 Mar. 3 17 Feb. 18 24 Jan. 30 24 an. 13 8' Jan. 15' 17 eb. 22 17 Feb. 21 Dec. 11 Feb. 4' Feb. 23 - c C m X m Aug. 28 Nov. 51 Nov. 17 - m z ' Average for more than one trial., i z EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 21 A high grams per centimeter ratio of 0.246 was averaged by all cultivars ranging from 0.144 (Rainer) to 0.503 (Pan American Summer Pink). Equalling or exceeding the mean grams per centimeter readings of all cultivars were Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New Mexico, Pan American Summer Pink, Potomac Yellow, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, and Winchester plants. Kansas, Potomac Pink, Potomac White, and Winchester were the only Group III cultivars which exceeded all growth means for Group III cultivars grown out of season. Kentucky, New Mexico, and Pan American Summer Pink equalled or exceeded the Group III means for three growth parameters. Meeting only two of the growth parameters were Laurel, Potomac Yellow, Tennessee, and Missouri. GROUP IV CULTIVARS FLOWERED IN THE SUMMER Summer flowering of Group IV cultivars averaged 53 days and ranged from 42 days for plants of Houston to 69 days for plants of White Skies, table 8. With the exception of Florida (45 days), Houston (42 days), Potomac Pink (65 days), Summer Jewel (62 days), and White Skies (69 days), most of the cultivars flowered within a week of the mean flowering time. Group IV cultivars averaged a plant height of 37.6 inches when flowered in the summer. The tallest and shortest plants were produced by Potomac Pink (43.3 inches) and Tampa (31.8 inches), respectively. Plant heights of Alabama, Georgia, Houston, June Bride, Miami, Oklahoma, Potomac Pink, Potomac Red, White Skies, and Winchester plants exceeded the cultivar mean height. Arizona, Potomac White, and Potomac Yellow almost equalled the cultivar mean height. The mean fresh weight of the Group IV cultivars was 1.5 ounces. Arizona, June Bride, and Potomac Pink were the heaviest (2.0 ounces), whereas Tampa weighed the least (0.8 ounce). Plant fresh weight of Arizona, Dark Star, Georgia, June Bride, Miami, Monterey, Oklahoma, Potomac Pink, Potomac Red, Potomac Rose, Potomac White, Summer Jewel, Veracruz, and White Skies generally equalled or exceeded the mean plant fresh weight for Group IV cultivars flowered in the summer. I3 TABLE 8. EVALUATION OF GROUP IV CULTIVARS OF SNAPDRAGONS FLOWERED IN THE SUMMER, JUNE 10-SEPTEMBER 10 Cutva Number fties Year tested Bench date Flowerin date Number of days benhro flowering 52 59 54 45 53 42 57 52 47 59 48 65 53 57 56 50 62 46 49 47 69 48 53 53 Plant height In. Plant weight Oz. 1.3 2.0 1.9 1.3 1.6 1.0 2.0 1.8 1.0 Spike Stem Source length strength (originator) In. 7.7 8.4 7.0 7.7 9.0 8.1 9.6 8.6 6.9 Color g/fcm 0.135 .180 .276 .117 .137 .103 .159 .146 .108 Alabama.......... 2 Arizona .............. 1 Dark Star.......... 2 Florida........... 4 Georgia .............. 2 Houston.......... 4 June Bride ......... 1 iami......... .. 4 Mobile........... 1 Monterey.........1 Oklahoma Potomac Pink .. Potomac Red... Potomac Rose .. Potomac White . Potomac Yellow.. Summer Jewel ... Tampa.............. Texas ............... Veracruz............ White Skies......... Winchester......... .......... 4 8 2 1 7 4 1 1 3 3 1 1 - 71,80 June 30' 72 juy 24 67,68 June 3' 70,80,82 June 14' 68,71 Juy 24' 79,80,82 June 21' 69 May 21 72,80,82July 2' 80 July 1 68 Juy 24 79,80,82 June 14' 7 1,72 June 19' 82 June 22' 68 July 19 66,68,69,71 July 1' 68,69,82 July 6' 68 Juy 19 80 Jly 1 80,82 June 23' 68,69,70 July 16' Juy 19 68 80 - Sept. 4' Sept. 21 Aug. 6' July 29' Sept. 15' Aug. 1' June17 Sept. 21 Aug. 1' Aug. 23' Aug. 16 38.1 37.1 34.4 34.9 41.4 41.1 39.0 39.9 35.2 Yoder Deeprosepink Yoder Lavender Yoder Clear yellow Yoder Rose pink Yoder Light pink Yoder White Pan Amer. Pure white Pan Amer. Medium pink Yoder Dark pink Aug. 10' Aug. 14' Sept. 14 Aug. 5' Aug. 25' Sept. 19 Aug. 15 Aug. 11' Aug. 6' Sept. 27 July 1 - Overall meanGroupIV mean... Aug. 17 - - 34.2 41.7 43.3 40.9 36.0 37.2 37.1 35.7 31.8 35.4 35.9 41.9 39.4 38.0 37.6 1.7 1.8 2.0 1.9 1.4 1.5 1.3 1.4 .8 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 1.5 8.9 8.9 8.2 9.2 7.5 8.0 8.5 8.7 6.6 7.7 8.2 6.5 7.5 8.1 8.1 .144 .162 .210 .136 .219 .189 .163 .213 .068 .129 .175 .215 .108 .161 .151 Pan Amer. Yoder Winkler Winkler Winkler Winkler Winkler Yoder Yoder Yoder Pan Amer. Yoder Yoder - Pure white Deep yellow Medium pink Dark red Rose pink White Medium yellow Deep pink White White Deep yellow Paper white Rose pink - C r x .0 -a CA) z ' Average for more than one trial. 0 z EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 23 The mean flower spike length for summer-flowering Group IV cultivars was 8.1 inches. The longest flower spikes were produced by June Bride (9.6 inches) and the shortest by White Skies (6.5 inches). Arizona, Georgia, Houston, June Bride, Miami, Monterey, Oklahoma, Potomac Pink, Potomac Red, Potomac Yellow, Potomac White, Summer Jewel, and Veracruz generally equalled or exceeded the cultivar flower spike average. A grams per centimeter ratio of 0.151 was averaged by the Group IV cultivars. Dark Star stems averaged 0.276, the highest grams per centimeter ratio, whereas Tampa averaged 0.068, the lowest grams per centimeter ratio. Stems of Arizona, Dark Star, June Bride, Oklahoma, Potomac Pink, Potomac Rose, Potomac Yellow, Potomac White, Summer Jewel, Veracruz, and White Skies plants equalled or exceeded the cultivar mean for grams per centimeter. June Bride, Oklahoma, and Potomac Pink were the only cultivars which equalled or exceeded the Group IV means for the plant parameters considered in this study. Arizona, Georgia, Miami, Summer Jewel, Veracruz, White Skies, and Potomac Red failed to meet the Group IV mean in just one growth parameter. Houston, Monterey, Potomac Pink, Potomac Yellow, and Potomac White equalled or exceeded the Group IV means in two of the four growth parameters. 24 ALABAMA AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION SCHEDULING A schedule and list of cultivars for central Alabama has been developed from the current investigation and is presented in table 9. Full sunlight (light shade, 10 percent in the late spring and summer), a minimum night temperature of 62 F (when possible, air-cooled greenhouse), and unchecked growth are needed during culture to successfully use the schedule. Cultivar groups should be flowered in the proper flowering period; for example, Group II flowered from December 1 to April 30. Having selected a flowering date and cultivar group, one can use the average flowering time to determine the date of benching or transplanting. A 2-week or more variation in flowering time may exist within a flowering group. This variation is important because a grower would generally want a bench of snapdragons to flower at the same time to facilitate year-round, precision production. For a Group II cultivar, Rocky Mountain flowers in approximately 72 days, which is close to the mean flowering time of 70 days for Group II cultivars. Cultivars such as Oakland (52 days) and Phoenix (80 days) will flower approximately 17 days earlier and 11 days later than Rocky Mountain. Failure to respect this variation could tie up bench space for 11 to 28 days longer than anticipated. Variations in cultivar timing (7 to 14 days) do not apply to Group III flowered out of season in winter, which demonstrated greater variations in Auburn tests. An average propagation time of 30 days should be added to the average flowering time to determine the date to sow seeds; for example, Rocky Mountain would flower 102 days from the date of sowing seed. Propagation time is based on mist propagation at 700F, 10-20 percent shade, and transplanting seedlings when 11/2 inches in height (unchecked growth). High light intensities according to cultivar group are desirable after germination. Supplemental lighting (constant or a 4-hour light break in the middle of the night with fluorescent lamps at 86 to 108 lamp watts per square meter with tubes 8 to 10 inches above the plants) can be used to hasten the growth of seedlings to transplanting size and decrease overall production time. A 1- to 2-week speedup in timing may result; however, the effect of this supplemental lighting on quality is not known under central Alabama conditions. m TABLE 9. SCHEDULE AND LIST OF CULTIVARS FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA BASED ON AUBURN TESTS, 1966-83 Flowering period and mean flowering time from benching Group II December 1 to April 30, 69 days Timing' White Flower color, cultivar , and rating 2 Pink Yellow 0 Others z z v C) 0 Early Average Late *Oakland **Kodiak **Rainer **Bronze Yellow No. 163 ***Baltimore ***Rocky Mountain m ***California **Yellow No. 117 **Bronze Scarlet No. 147 **Tennessee **McKinley **Butterfly White II **Montezuma ***Phoenix ***Lavender z No. 54 Group111-spring May 1 toJune 30, 69 days 0) 0 In CO) Early Average Late *Potomac White ***San Francisco z ***Potomac Pink *lmbaColumbia *Butterfly Pink II ***Winchester **Laurel *Roanoke ***Missouri **Potomac **St. Louis **Tucson Yellow *Butterfly White ***Potomac Ivory * *Virginia *Houston * * *June Bride *Kansas 0 **New Mexico 0 0 z C Group JV-summrer June 30 to Sept. 30, 53 days Early Average * *Georgia Late ?Monterey *Potomac White **White Skies **Miami ***Oklahoma * *Potomac Yellow **Potomac **Arizona Red CO) **Veracruz ***Potomac Pink **Summer Jewel Continued N' 0) TABLE 9 (Continued). SCHEDULE AND LIST OF CULTIVARS FOR CENTRAL ALABAMA BASED ON AUBURN TESTS, 1966-83 Flowering period and mean flowering time from benching Group III-fall Oct. 1 to Nov. 30, 58 days Timing' White Flower color, cultivar , and rating Pink Yellow 2 Others Early Average *Panama ***Roanoke ***Potomac Ivory ***North Carolina ***Idaho **Potomac Pink **Yellow Butterfly *Potomac Yellow ***Potomac Orange r- a a a Late Group III-year-round 98 days Early Average *San Francisco **Virginia *Rocky Mountain **Kentucky **Pan American Summer Pink ***Winchester **Kentucky *Laurel *Tampico **New Mexico 0 I-C C C a *Missouri ***Kansas **New Mexico *Tennessee Late ***Potomac White ***Potomac Pink *Potomac Yellow ' With the exception of Group III cultivars flowered year-round, early and late indicates approximately 7 days earlier or later, respectively, than the mean flowering time from benching. Approximately 30 days should be added to the figure to determine date of sowing seed. 2 Cultivars rated on equalling or exceeding cultivar group means for plant height and weight, flower, spike length, and stem strength; *** = perfect score, excellent cultivars; ** = scored in 3 out of 4 measurements, outstanding cultivars; * = scored 2 out of the 4 measurements, good cultivars. rm x "0 m m z -i CD -I o 0 z EVALUATION AND SCHEDULING OF SNAPDRAGON CULTIVARS 27 LITERATURE CITED (1) 1964. p. 59-63. In G. J. Ball, V. Ball, and G. K. Ball (ed.). George J. Ball Seed Catalog. West Chicago, Ill., 129 pp. ANONYMOUS. 1983. Auburn University 1983 Micrometeorological Data. Agr. Weather Ser. No. 22. U.S. Dept. Commerce Nat. Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin. Nat. Weather Serv., and Ala. Agr. Exp. Sta. BALL, V. 1972. Snapdragons. p. 459-473. In. V. Ball (ed.). The Ball Red Book. G.J. Ball Inc., West Chicago, Ill. 502 pp. HANEY, W. J. 1951. Timing of Single Stem Snaps. Mich. Flor. 244:13. HOLLEY, W. D.,JR. 1966. Year Around Culture of Snapdragons in Colorado. Colo. Flower Grow. Assoc. Bull. 200:1-4. PAYNE, R. N. 1970. Timing of Snapdragons under Fiberglass in Oklahoma. Okla. Greenhouse Grow. Newsletter 7:4-6. RAULSTON, J. C. 1972. 1970-1971 Evaluation of Snapdragon Cultivars for Florida Field (Saranhouse) Production. Fla. Flower Grow. 9(1):2-8. . 1972. Cultivar Selection and Crop Timing for Production of Snapdragons in Florida Field Culture. Fla. Flower Grow. 9(2):1-9. ROGERS, M. N. 1961. The Reaction of Varieties of Different Response Groups Grown During the Winter Months at Night Temperatures of 60 oF., 50 F. and 50 o F. with Supplementary Light. Nat. Snapdragon Soc. Bull. 13. 4 pp. . 1961. Year Around Snapdragon Culture 5. The Reaction of Varieties of Different Response Groups Grown During the Winter Months at 60'F. and 50 F. Night Temperature. Mo. State Florist News. 22(6):5-7. . 1980. Snapdragons. p. 107-131. In R. A. Larson Introduction to Floriculture. Academic Press. New York. ANONYMOUS. SANDERSON, K. C. AND C. B. LINK. 1967. The Influence of Temperature (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12) and Photoperiod on the Growth and Quality of a Winter and Summer Cultivar of Snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus L. Proc. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 91:598-611. . 1975. A Crop to Meet the Energy Crisis Snapdragon. (13) Introduction, Scheduled Production and Cultivar Selection. Flor. Rev. 156 (4036):23-24. (14) WHITE, J. W. 1961. Timing Snapdragons. Penn. Flower Grow. Bull. 125:57. AUBURN UNIVERSITY With an agricul tural research unit in everven majo r s( il area, Auburn Universitv serves the needs of field crop, livestock, forestry and hor ticultural producers ii each region in Alabama. Every citizen of the State has a stake in this research program since any advantage from nex and more economical w~ays of produc- o 0 t ing and handling farm products directly benefits the consuming public ®® O ® Main Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn. A E. V. Smith Research Center, Shorter. Tennessee Valley Substation, Belle Mina Sand Mountain Substation, Crossville. North Alabama Horticulture Substation, Cullman. Upper Coastal Plain Substation. Winfield. Forestry Unit. Fayette County. Chilton Area Horticulture Substation, Clanton. Forestry Unit. Coosa County. Piedmont Substation, Camp Hill. Plant Breeding Uiit, Tallassee. Forestry Unit, Autauga County. Prattville Esperiment Field, Prattville Black Belt Substation, Marion Junction The Turnipseed-Ikenberry Place, Union Springs. Lower Coastal Plain Substation, Camden. Forestry Unit, Barbour County Monroeville Experiment Field, Monroeville. Wiregrass Substation, Headland Brewton Experiment Field, Brewton Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center, Covington and Escambia counties 20 Ornamental Horticulture Substation, Spring Hill 21. Gult Coast Substation, Fairhope. 1 2 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 9. 10 11 12. 13. 14 15. 16. 17 18 19