Chimonidou-Pavlidou, Dora. 2001. Cultivation of Helichrysum

MISCELLANEOUS REPORTS 79
ISSN 0253-6749
CULTIVATION OF HELICHRYSUM, HELIPTERUM AND DELPHINIUM
UNDER CYPRUS CONDITIONS
Dora Chimonidou - Pavlidou
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
NICOSIA
CYPRUS
DECEMBER 2001
Editor - in Chief
Dr A.P. Mavrogenis, Agricultural Research Institute, Nicosia, Cyprus.
All responsibility for the information in this publication remains with the author(s). The use of
trade names does not imply endorsement of or discrimination against any product by the
Agricultural Research Institute.
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CULTIVATION OF HELICHRYSUM, HELIPTERUM AND DELPHINIUM
UNDER CYPRUS CONDITIONS
Dora Chimonidou - Pavlidou
SUMMARY
The demand for new cut flowers in European and world markets continually increases. Fourteen species/varieties of Helichrysum bracteatum, Helipterum roseum,
Helipterum manglesii and Delphinium consolida, were cultivated during 1995-98 in an
unheated greenhouse and in the field at Zygi experimental station. All species were evaluated for total productivity per square meter and certain quality characteristics (stem
length and fresh weight). Pinching at an early stage of development resulted in higher
production for both varieties of Helichrysum bracteatum cultivated in the field. Both
species Helipterum roseum and Helipterum manglesii produced 44% of the total production in the high demand period, when planted at the end of October in an unheated
greenhouse. All species studied could be sold as fresh or could easily be dried in a dark
ventilated room at 30 oC for the first week and at 20 oC for the following 2 to 3 weeks
and provide the market with dry flowers.
ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗ
Η ζήτηση για νέα είδη κοµµένων ανθέων στην Ευρωπαϊκή και διεθνή αγορά
συνεχώς αυξάνεται. ∆εκατέσσερα είδη/ποικιλίες Helichrysum bracteatum,
Helipterum roseum, Helipterum manglesii and Delphinium consolida, καλλιεργήθηκαν την περίοδο 1995-98 σε µη θερµαινόµενο θερµοκήπιο και εκτός θερµοκηπίου
στον Πειραµατικό Σταθµό Ζυγίου. Όλα τα πιο πάνω είδη αξιολογήθηκαν ως προς
την ολική παραγωγή ανά τετραγωνικό µέτρο και για ορισµένα ποιοτικά χαρακτηριστικά τους (µήκος στελέχους και βάρος). Η αφαίρεση του κορυφαίου µεριστώµατος σε νεαρό στάδιο της ανάπτυξης συνετέλεσε σε µεγαλύτερη παραγωγή και για
τις δυο ποικιλίες Helichrysum bracteatum που καλλιεργήθηκαν εκτός θερµοκηπίου. Και τα δυο ειδη Helipterum roseum και Helipterum manglesii παρήξαν 44% της
ολικής παραγωγής στην εποχή µέγιστης ζήτησης της αγοράς, όταν η φύτευση έγινε
τον Οκτώβριο σε µη θερµαινόµενο θερµοκήπιο. Όλα τα είδη που µελετήθηκαν µπορούν να πωληθούν ως χλωρά ή εύκολα να αποξηρανθούν σε σκοτεινό, αεριζόµενο
δωµάτιο σε 30 oC για την πρωτη βδοµαδα και 20 oC για τις επόµενες 2 ως 3 βδοµάδες και να πωληθούν ως αποξηραµένα.
INTRODUCTION
A study of major markets for cut flowers
showed that the total world imports of cut
flowers increased by 11% during the years
1991-95 and reached $4,100 million (ITC,
1997). Although the proportion of roses in the
European markets has remained constant, the
demand for all other traditional crops is
declining compared to new crops. The
requirements are mainly for cut flowers that
look like wild flowers. These market requirements lead the developmental trends to a) the
introduction of new crops or new appearances
of old crops, and b) to the supply of the same
cut flowers all year round.
Israel, the third largest flower exporter in
the world after Holland and Colombia, had a
share of 4.2% of the world exports in 1995.
Comparisons of Israeli export of cut flowers
demonstrates that during the last ten years
new cut flowers have grown from 20% of
total export to 53%. The increase in stems
sold of old crops was 14%, while in new crops
it was 617%. Marketing is concentrated in the
months November May when 79% of the cut
flowers are exported, while during the summer months (June-October) only 21% of the
cut flowers are exported (Ben-Tal, 1998).
Lately a report by Halevy (2000), shows that
over 60% of the exportable flowers are new
crops, most of which have not been grown
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commercially ten years ago.
The aim of this experimental work was, a)
to test different species of new cut flowers
under Cyprus climatic conditions and to study
their total productivity per square meter, b) to
produce flowers at the period of high market
demand applying different pinching techniques or different planting dates and c) to
study some quality characteristics before and
after drying.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Fourteen species/varieties of cut flowers
were tested during 1995-97 at Zygi experimental station. The station is situated 1.5 km
north of Zygi. Its latitude 34o 45’ N, its longitude is 33o 20’ E and its elevation 40 m above
MSL. The soil is of medium to fine texture,
with clay content about 40% throughout the
profile. All test species were cultivated in an
unheated polyethylene-covered greenhouse
and two species of Helichrysum were also
tested in the field during 1997.
Seedlings on growing blocks were transplanted in beds one meter wide at a planting
density of 25 plants/m2 in the greenhouse and
20 plants/m2 in the field. The species
Helichrysum bracteatum var. bunter bikini
and Helichrysum bracteatum var. monstrosum were planted at the end of October 1995
at a spacing of 20x25 cm. During 1996/97 the
same species were tried in the open at a spac-
ing of 25x25 cm. Two species of Helipterum
roseum (acroclinium) var. tetred and var.
grobblumige spielartum and Helipterum
manglesii (rhodanthe) var. mischung were
planted at the end of October 1995, at a spacing of 20x20 cm and seven varieties of Delphinium consolida were planted in the middle
of December 1996 at a distance of 20x20 cm.
Constant levels of irrigation and fertilization were applied in all cases. Irrigation was
given twice a week with inline drippers of 4
l/h so that the tensiometer reading was
between -30 and -40 kPa in the greenhouse
and up to -50 kPa in the field. Basic fertilization of NPK (20-10-10) was applied only
once at planting. Pest control was applied as
necessary.
Plot size was one square metre and the
experimental design a randomised complete
block with four replications.
Stems were harvested at the appropriate
stage for each species. Stem length and the
fresh weight of each stem were determined.
The stems were then tied in bunches (10-12
stems) and hanged upside down in a dark ventilated room at 30 oC for the first week and 20
oC for the following 2 to 3 weeks until they
were completely dry.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Table 1 shows the performance of the 14
species/varieties tested during 1995-97. The
Table 1. Performance the species Helichrysum, Helipterum and Delphinium tested in 1996-97 in an unheated greenhouse and
in the open at Zygi Experimental Station
Species
1.
2.
3.
4.
Helichrysum bracteatum var. bunter bikini
Helichrysum bracteatum var. monstrosum
Helipterum roseum (acroclinium) var. tetred
Helipterum roseum (acroclinium)
var. grobblumige spielarten
5. Helipterum manglesii (rhodanthe)
var. mischung
6. Delphinium consolida var. salmon beauty
7. Delphinium consolida var. pink queen
8. Delphinium consolida var. white king
9. Delphinium consolida var. blue bell
10. Delphinium consolida var. blue spire
11. Delphinium consolida var. carmine king
12. Delphinium consolida var. lilac spire
13. Helichrysum bracteatum var. bunter bikini*
14. Helichrysum bracteatum var. monstrosum*
*Production outdoors.
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Plants/m2
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
25
20
20
Productivity/ Total productivity Main cropping
plant (stems)
(stems/m2)
season
Year
15
5
27
35
16
15
11
12
8
10
11
9
54
11
386
112
687
885
400
373
263
298
192
259
267
227
1087
213
Feb-May
Feb-May
Feb-June
Feb-Jun
Feb-Apr
Mar-May
Mar-Apr
Mar-Apr
MarApr
Mar-Apr
Mar-Apr
Feb-Apr
May-Aug
May-Aug
1996
1996
1996
1996
1996
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
1997
Stems/m2
Figure 1. Productivity of two Helichrysum bracteatum varieties during the 1995-97 cropping
period.
Stems/m2
species Helichrysum bracteatum var. bunter
bikini and Helichrysum bracteatum var. monstrosum were planted at the end of October
1995 and peak production of var. bunter bikini was in February-March with 60% of total,
and for var. monsrosum in March-April with
80% of total (Fig. 1). Productivity per square
metre was relatively low for both species.
However, during 1996/97 the same species
were tried in the field and var. monstrosum
production outdoors was twice as much and
of var. bunter bikini three times as much as
their production in the greenhouses (Fig. 2).
Fresh weight followed the same pattern as
productivity. The difference could be attributed to the great number of side shoots produced outdoors due to pinching at an early
stage of development. The stem length of the
species cultivated outside was shorter (20 to
40 cm) compared to those in the greenhouse
(40 to 60 cm). This might not be a disadvan-
Figure 2. Productivity of two Helichrysum bracteatum varieties, indoors and outdoors, in
1995-97.
tage since Helichrysum species are sold mainly as heads for the dry-flower industry.
During the production period (MayAugust, 1997) mean daily maximum temperature ranged between 28.3 and 34.4 oC , mean
sun light radiation between 2.6 and 3.0
joul/cm2 . Irrigation intervals allowed the soil
to dry up to –50 kPa. These environmental
conditions concide with the recommendations of Oliveira et al. (2000), who suggested
for Helichrysum obconicum full sunlight and
moderate watering that allows the substrate to
dry slightly between watering periods.
Helipterum roseum (acroclinium) var.
tetred and var. grobblumige spielarten and
Helipterum manglesii (rhodanthe) var. mischung were planted at the end of October
1995 and the cropping season lasted from
February to June, with 44% of the total production in February and 47% in March–April
(Fig. 3). Production during February is very
important since the aim is to produce high
quality products during winter (Shillo, 2000).
The mean fresh weight per stem for the two
varieties of Helipterum roseum was 5.2 and
5.7 g, respectively and the mean stem length
65 cm. However, the mean fresh weight of
Helipterum manglesii was 10.1 g and its mean
stem length 57 cm. Although the total productivity of var. maglesii was lower the quality of the stems was better, especially after
drying. The peak period of production was in
February and this agrees with the trend in
Israel where they introduce European summer flowers and force them to flower during
winter with high quality flowers (Shillo,
2000).
Seven varieties of Delphinium consolida
were planted in the middle of December 1996
at a distance of 20x20 cm. Cropping season
lasted from February to April. The variety
salmon beauty was the most productive with
a peak in March followed by the varieties
white king, carmine king, pink queen, blue
spire, lilac spire and blue bell (Fig. 3). The
fresh weight ranged between 11 and 11.9 g
and the stem length between 40 and 60 cm.
All species studied grow as fresh flowers
or can be easily dried in a dark ventilated
room at 30 oC for the first week and at 20 oC
for the following 2 to 3 weeks to maintain
their colour and quality characteristics and
provide the market with dry flowers sold as
bunches or in arrangements.
5
Stems/m2
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author would like to express her
thanks to Mr. P.G. Americanos for his valuable advice and encouragement, to Mr. S.
Christoforou, Mr. Ch. Pittas and his team at
Zygi experimental station and to Mrs Meropi
Mapouridou for their valuable assistance in
the greenhouse and in the laboratory.
REFERENCES
Ben-Tal, Y. 1998. World trends and requirements.
Israel. Acta Horticulturae 454:49-58.
Stems/m2
Halevy, A.H. 2000. Introduction of native Israeli
plants as new cut flowers. Acta
Horticulturae 541:79-82.
Figure 3. Productivity of Helipterum roseum and
Helipterum manglesii during the cropping
period of 1996 and Delphinium consolida
during 1999.
Since 1985 the demand for traditional
crops is declining, except for roses, while the
demand for new crops is gaining momentum
(Halevy, 2000). The future belongs to the
species with high return per square meter and
volume of water. Particularly in countries like
Cyprus with a shortage of water, low rainfall
and high light intensity all species studied
have a lot of potential and future not only for
the local market but for exports both for fresh
and dry production.
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ITC, 1997. Product and Market Development of
cut flowers (a study of major markets).
International Trade Center UNCTA/WTO,
Geneva.
Oliveira Dragovic, M.J., S.G. Ferreira, and M.C.
Neves. 2000. Utilisation of Helichrysum
obconicum D.C. as ornamental plant: preliminary studies on pot adaptation. Acta
Horticulturae 541:49-52.
Shillo, R. 2000. The importance of New crops for
Israeli Floriculture. Acta Horticulturae
541:221-225.
P.I.O. 222/2001-400
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