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Crop Res. 49 (1, 2 & 3) : 62-71 (2015)
With four figures
Printed in India
Morphological characterization of different anthurium cultivars
under shade net house in soil-less condition
PRIYASREE SARMA TAMULI* AND MADHUMITA CHOUDHURY TALUKDAR
Department of Horticulture
Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat-785 013 (Assam), India
*(e-mail: [email protected])
(Received : September 2014/Accepted : November 2014)
ABSTRACT
An experiment was conducted to characterize anthurium cultivars under shadenet house in soil-less culture under Jorhat condition involving 12 cultivars viz., Tropical,
Fire Calorie, Acropolis, Moments, Agnihotri, Cherry Red, Evita Red, Daniel, Evita Pink,
Magic Pink and Sweet Heart. Results indicated that morphological traits contributing
largely to the variability were those related to leaf colour, shape of sinus between posterior
lobes of the leaves, overlapping of the posterior lobes of the spathe, shape of spathe and
spadix and colour of spathe, spadix and flower stalk. The cultivars can be characterized
into two distinct colour groups with respect to leaf colour. With respect to colour of the leaf
stalk, all the cultivars exhibited similar colour. Three distinct groups were observed with
respect to sinus between posterior lobes of leaves. The cultivars can be characterized into
two groups based on shape of the spathe as well as type of its posterior lobe. The colour of
the spathe was found to be different in different stages of flower growth viz., at the time of
unfurling of spathe, at the time of complete unfurling of spathe and at the time of maturity
in all the cultivars. Based on these stages, four, six and eight distinct colour groups were
obtained, respectively. Similarly, the shape of spadix was also found to be different in
different stages of flower growth viz., at the time of unfurling of spathe and at the time of
maturity and based on these, for both the stages, two distinct shapes of spadix were
observed and cultivars were characterized, respectively. With respect to colour of flower
stalk, four distinct groups were obtained.
Key words : Morphological characterization, soil-less culture
INTRODUCTION
Anthuriums are members of the Arum
lily family (Araceae). It consists of the spathe
and the spadix, on which the flowers are
situated. The name Anthurium is derived from
the Greek words ‘Anthos’, meaning ‘flowering’,
and ‘aura’, meaning ‘tail’. Anthuriums are
commonly known as painter’s palette and are
very popular cut flowers because of their beauty
and long vase life. The flower of anthurium
consists of a colourful modified leaf called the
‘spathe’ and hundreds of small spirally
arranged bisexual flowers on a pencil like
structure called the ‘spadix’, arising from the
base of the spathe commonly known as ‘candle’.
It is an ‘evergreen’ plant which can produce
flowers all year round. Both the flowers and
the leaves are harvested from the crop. There
are more than 100 different varieties with a
wide range of sizes, shapes and colours. The
national and international demand of this
flower is very high. The major countries
importing anthurium are USA, Germany and
Japan. In India, the anthurium cut flower
industry is still in its infancy. The important
states cultivating anthuriums are Kerala, Tamil
Nadu (Salem) and Karnataka (Coorg), where the
favourable climate exists (Agasimani et al.,
2011). The people often prefer novel attractive
varieties as cut flowers. In order to meet the
need and demand at national and international
market, there is a scope to develop new varieties
of anthurium. Although anthuriums have been
marketed as cut flowers for decades, their
popularity began to surge in the 1970s and
these have not stopped growing since then.
Anthurium ranks ninth in the global flower
trade and commands a respectable price both
for its cut flower and whole plant. Presently,
the Netherlands is the world’s leading producer
and exporter followed by Mauritius. Due to the
increasing demand for cut flowers in the world
market, large numbers of novel anthurium
Morphological characterization of Anthurium cultivars in soil-less condition
cultivars are continually being imported from
the Netherlands and Hawaii for commercial
cultivation. Identification of all those different
cultivars has become a major issue. Therefore,
there is need to characterize these cultivars
morphologically for their identification and local
recommendation so as to match the demand
of both the domestic as well as international
markets. So, the detailed study of
morphological characterization Anthurium
andraeanum Linden ex André cultivars was
considered as one of the most important
objectives in the present investigation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The present investigation was carried
out at the Experimental Farm, Department of
Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University,
Jorhat during 2011-13 for two seasons. The
experimental site was located at 26°47′N
latitude, 94°12′E longitude and 86.80 m above
the mean sea level. The topography of the land
was uniform. Jorhat is situated in the Upper
Brahmaputra Valley Zone among the six Agro
Climatic Zones of Assam. The climatic condition
of this zone is characterized by a sub-tropical
humid climate having a hot and humid summer
from May to August and relatively dry and cool
winter from December to January, whereas
there is mild winter from September to
November and February to April. The rainfall
is about 2500 mm and it is unevenly distributed
throughout the year. In general, the extreme
temperature variation is not encountered in
this zone. Three shade-net houses of 54 m2 were
constructed with angular iron rods as supports
and the top portion and the side walls were
covered with a single layer of shade net. The
shade-net houses were oriented in the direction
of North-South because of which it maintained
the better light level during winter and also
75% shade was provided. The trial was laid out
in randomized block design (RBD) with 12
anthurium cultivars viz., Tropical, Fire, Calorie,
Acropolis, Moments, Agnihotri, Cherry Red,
Evita Red, Daniel, Evita Pink, Magic Pink and
Sweet Heart (collected from Florance Flora
Bangalore), replicated thrice. The tissue
cultured plantlets of anthurium were grown in
the 30 cm raised beds framed with cemented
brick walls which hold the growing media. The
beds were constructed by giving a gentle slope
of 7.6 cm (3 inch). In between two beds 80 cm
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gap was given. At bottom black polythene was
placed to prevent the contact of plant root
system with soil. The beds were filled up with
10.2 cm (4 inch) layers of brick pieces at the
bottom, followed by 7.6 cm (3 inch) layer of
charcoal on its top followed by 5.1 (2.1 inch)
layer of coco husk (3 x 3 cm pieces ). A spacing
of 30 cm in between rows and 30 cm in between
plants was maintained. For planting of each
plant, a small pit was prepared and filled up
with coco peat and sand in 3 : 1 ratio. Fertilizer
was applied in the form of complete fertilizer
i. e. 19 all @ 2 g/l of water for twice a week.
The observations were recorded based
on morphological traits for the two growing
seasons i. e. 2011-12 and 2012-13 which are
as follows :
Leaf Colour
Light green and dark green colour was
observed visually at maturity.
Leaf Stalk Colour
Colour of the stalk was observed
visually at maturity as light green colour.
Shape of the Sinus between Posterior Lobes
of Leaves
Shape of the sinus between posterior
lobes of the leaf was observed visually at
maturity as parabolic, slightly parabolic and
spathulate in nature.
Spathe Shape
Spathe shape was observed visually at
the stage of complete unfurl of the spathe as
heart shaped and non-heart shaped spathe.
Overlapping of the Posterior Lobes of the
Spathe
Overlapping of the posterior lobes of the
spathe was observed visually at the stage of
complete unfurl of the spathe.
Colour of the Spathe
Colour of the spathe was observed
visually at three different stages viz., at the time
of unfurling of spathe, at complete unfurling
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Tamuli and Talukdar
of spathe and at the time of maturity.
Spadix Shape
Spadix shape was observed visually at
two different stages viz. at the time of unfurling
of spathe and at the time of maturity.
Spadix Colour
Spadix colour was observed visually at
three different stages viz., at the time of
unfurling of spathe, at complete unfurling of
spathe and at the time of maturity.
Flower Stalk Colour
Flower stalk colour was observed
visually at two different stages viz., at the time
of unfurling of spathe and at complete unfurling
of spathe.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
For all the cultivars, variation was
observed based on different morphological
traits (Table 1 and Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4). Two
distinct colours were observed with respect to
leaf colour. The cultivars Acropolis, Cherry Red,
Evita Red, Magic Pink and Sweet Heart
exhibited dark green colour of leaves and the
rest of the cultivars exhibited light green colour.
With respect to colour of the leaf stalk, all the
cultivars exhibited similar colour i. e. light
green. Three distinct shapes were observed with
respect to sinus between posterior lobes of
leaves. The shape of the sinus was found to be
slightly parabolic in the cultivar Moments.
Whereas Cherry Red and Magic Pink exhibited
the spathulate shape of sinus and on the other
hand the rest of the cultivars showed parabolic
type of sinus between the posterior lobes of
leaves. The cultivars exhibited either heart
shaped or non-heart shaped spathe. The heart
shaped spathe was exhibited by most of the
cultivars viz., Tropical, Fire Calorie, Moments,
Evita Red, Daniel, Evita Pink and Magic Pink.
And the remaining cultivars showed non-heart
shaped spathe. The cultivars exhibited either
overlapped or non-overlapped type of posterior
lobes of the spathe. The posterior lobes of the
spathe were found to be overlapped in the
cultivars viz., Cherry Red, Evita Red, Daniel
and Magic Pink. On the other hand, in rest of
the cultivars the posterior lobes of the spathe
were found to be non overlapped. The colour of
the spathe was found to be different in different
stages of flower growth viz., at the time of
unfurling of spathe, at the time of complete
unfurling of spathe and at the time of maturity.
At the time of unfurling of spathe, four distinct
colours were observed. The cultivars Tropical,
Fire, Calorie, Cherry Red, Evita Red and Sweet
Heart exhibited red colour spathe. Agnihotri,
Evita Pink and Magic Pink exhibited pink colour
spathe. Light green colour spathe was exhibited
by Daniel, while Acropolis and Moments
exhibited white colour spathe. At complete
spathe unfurling, six distinct colours were
observed. The cultivar Evita Red exhibited deep
red spathe. Red colour spathe was exhibited
by the cultivars viz., Tropical, Fire, Calorie,
Cherry Red and Sweet Heart. Agnihotri and
Evita Pink exhibited light pink colour spathe.
Daniel exhibited light green colour spathe.
Cream colour spathe was exhibited by Magic
Pink, while Acropolis and Moments exhibited
white colour spathe. At the time of maturity,
eight distinct colours were observed. Calorie
and Evita Pink had chocolate colour spathe.
Red colour was exhibited by Tropical, Fire,
Cherry Red and Sweet Heart. Evita Red
exhibited red colour spathe with green towards
posterior ends. Agnihotri and Magic Pink
exhibited green colour spathe, while Daniel
exhibited light green colour spathe. Moments
exhibited white colour spathe with green veins.
Acropolis exhibited white colour spathe with
slight green towards posterior end. The shape
of spadix was found to be different in different
stages of flower growth viz., at the time of
unfurling of spathe and at the time of maturity.
At the time of unfurling of spathe, two distinct
shapes of spadix was observed. The shape of
spadices was found to be cylindrical in the
cultivars viz., Calorie, Moments and Sweet
Heart, whereas in the rest of the cultivars it
was found to be tapered. At the time of maturity
also two distinct shapes of spadix were
observed. The shape of spadices was found to
be tapered in the cultivars viz., Fire, Agnihotri
and Evita Red, while in rest of the cultivars it
was found to be cylindrical. The colour of the
spadix was found to be different in different
stages of flower growth viz., at the time of
unfurling of spathe, at complete unfurling of
spathe and at the time of maturity. At the time
of unfurling of spathe, all the cultivars exhibited
Leaf colour
Light green
Light green
Light green
Dark green
Light green
Light green
Dark green
Dark green
Light green
Light green
Dark green
Dark green
Cultivar
Tropical
Fire
Calorie
Acropolis
Moments
Agnihotri
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Daniel
Evita Pink
Magic Pink
Sweet Heart
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
Light
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
green
Leaf stalk
colour
Parabolic
Parabolic
Parabolic
Parabolic
Slightly parabolic
Parabolic
Spathulate
Parabolic
Parabolic
Parabolic
Spathulate
Parabolic
Shape of sinus
between posterior
lobes of leaves
Table 1. Characterization of cultivars based on morphological traits
No
No
No
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
No
Overlapping of the
posterior lobes of
the spathe
HS
HS
HS
NHS
HS
NHS
NHS
HS
HS
HS
HS
NHS
Spathe shape
Greenish brown
Light brown
Light brown
Green
Green
Green
Green
Brown
Green
Green
Reddish brown
Brown colour and light
green towards upward
At unfurling
Contd.
Greenish brown
Light brown
Light brown
Green
Green
Green
Green
Brown
Green
Green
Green
Brown
At complete unfurling
Colour of flower stalk
Morphological characterization of Anthurium cultivars in soil-less condition
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Red
Red
White
White
Pink
Red
Red
Light green
Pink
Pink
Fire
Calorie
Acropolis
Moments
Agnihotri
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Daniel
Evita Pink
Magic Pink
Sweet Heart Red
Red
At
unfurling
Tropical
Cultivar
Table 1 contd.
Red
Cylindrical
Tapered
Tapered
At
unfurling
Chocolate
Light green
Red
Red spathe and
green towards
posterior end
Red
Cylindrical
Tapered
Tapered
Tapered
Tapered
Tapered
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Tapered
Tapered
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Cylindrical
Tapered
Cylindrical
At maturity
Spadix shape
White spathe and
Tapered
slight green towards
posterior end
White spathe with
Cylindrical
green veins
Green
Tapered
Chocolate
Red
Red
At maturity
Cream colour Green
Light pink
Light green
Red
Deep red
Light pink
White
White
Red
Red
Red
At complete
unfurling
Colour of spathe
Reddish pink
Reddish pink
Upper half is yellowish
green and bottom half is
orange
Yellowish green and white
towards bottom
Yellow and slight
green tip
Half of the top portion
is light yellow and
bottom half portion is
white in colour
Bright yellow
Light orange but towards
bottom it is light pink
Creamish yellow
Reddish colour and slight
white towards bottom
Light yellow and white
towards bottom
Light yellow
At unfurling
Light pink towards
bottom and reddish
towards tip portion
Reddish colour spadix
and bottom portion
is light pink
Yellowish green with
yellow tip
Yellow
Half of the top portion
is light orange in colour
and bottom half is whitish
colour
Greenish red
White with yellowish
green tip
White with light pink tip
Upper half is light yellow
and lower half is white
Lower 1/3rd portion is
yellow, middle portion
is pink and upper
1/3rd portion is deep red
White with light
yellow tip
White with greenish tip
At complete unfurling
Spadix colour
Light pink with
deep pink at tip
Cream
Green
Maroon colour
Yellow with white tip
Whitish pink with
reddish pink tip
Dark purple
Creamish green
Dull white
White with light
yellow tip
Green
Greenish yellow
At maturity
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Tamuli and Talukdar
Morphological characterization of Anthurium cultivars in soil-less condition
Tropical
Fire
Calorie
Acropolis
Moments
Agnihotri
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Daniel
Magic Pink
Sweet Heart
Evita Pink
Fig. 1. Leaves of different cultivars.
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Tamuli and Talukdar
Tropical
Acropolis
Fire
Calorie
Moments
Agnihotri
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Daniel
Evita Pink
Magic Pink
Sweet Heart
Fig. 2. Cultivars at unfurling of spathe.
Morphological characterization of Anthurium cultivars in soil-less condition
Tropical
Acropolis
Fire
Moments
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Evita Pink
Magic Pink
Fig. 3. Cultivars at complete unfurling of spathe.
Calorie
Agnihotri
Daniel
Sweet Heart
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Tamuli and Talukdar
Tropical
Fire
Calorie
Acropolis
Moments
Agnihotri
Cherry Red
Evita Red
Daniel
Evita Pink
Magic Pink
Sweet Heart
Fig. 4. Cultivars at Maturity.
Morphological characterization of Anthurium cultivars in soil-less condition
different colours of spadix. The cultivar Tropical
exhibited light yellow colour spadix, which was
white towards bottom. Fire exhibited light
yellow spadix. The spadix was found to be
reddish with white bottom in Calorie. In
Acropolis, it was creamish yellow. Moments
showed yellow spadix with slight green tip. In
Agnihotri, the spadix showed two distinct
colours i. e. half of the top portion was light
yellow and bottom half portion was white in
colour. Cherry Red exhibited bright yellow
colour spadix. Evita Red exhibited light orange
colour spadix with light pink bottom. In Daniel,
the upper half portion was found to be yellowish
green and lower half was orange. The spadix
colour was found to be yellowish green and
white towards bottom in Evita Pink. In Magic
Pink and Sweet Heart, it was found to be
reddish pink in colour. At complete spathe
unfurling also, all the cultivars exhibited
different colours of spadix. The cultivar Tropical
exhibited white colour spadix with green tip.
In Fire, the upper half portion was found to be
light yellow and lower half was white. In Calorie,
the spadix showed three distinct colours i. e.
upper 1/3rd portion was deep red, middle
portion was pink and lower 1/3rd portion was
yellow in colour. Acropolis showed white colour
spadix with light yellow tip. Moments exhibited
white colour spadix with yellowish green tip.
Agnihotri showed white spadix with light pink
tip. Cherry Red exhibited yellow colour spadix.
In Evita Red, upper half portion was light
orange and lower half was white in colour.
Daniel showed greenish red spadix. Evita Pink
exhibited yellowish green spadix with yellow
tip. Magic Pink exhibited spadix having light
pink bottom and reddish towards tip portion.
Sweet Heart exhibited reddish colour spadix
with light pink bottom. At the time of maturity
also, all the cultivars exhibited different colours
of spadix. Tropical exhibited greenish yellow
spadix. Fire showed white spadix with light
yellow tip. In Calorie, it was green in colour,
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while it was dull white in Acropolis. Moments
showed spadix of creamish green colour. In
Agnihotri, it was dark purple in colour. Cherry
Red exhibited yellow spadix with white tip. Evita
Red exhibited whitish pink colour spadix with
reddish pink tip. Daniel showed maroon colour
spadix. Evita Pink showed green colour spadix.
Magic Pink exhibited cream colour spadix.
Sweet Heart exhibited light pink spadix with
deep pink tip. The colour of the flower stalk
was found to be different in different stages of
flower growth viz. at the time of unfurling of
spathe and at complete unfurling of spathe. At
the time of unfurling of spathe, six distinct
colours of stalk were observed. Magic Pink
exhibited reddish brown stalk. Evita Red
exhibited brown colour stalk. In Sweet Heart,
the flower stalk was brown in colour with light
green tip. Fire and Calorie exhibited light brown
flower stalk. Greenish brown stalk was
exhibited by cultivar Tropical. While the rest
of the cultivars exhibited green colour flower
stalk. At complete spathe unfurling, four
distinct colours of stalk were observed. Evita
Red and Sweet Heart exhibited brown colour
stalk. Light brown colour stalk was exhibited
by Fire and Calorie. Greenish brown colour
stalk was exhibited by Tropical. The rest of the
cultivars exhibited green colour flower stalk.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The first author is thankful to the Head,
Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural
University, Jorhat for providing necessary
facilities.
REFERENCE
Agasimani, A. D., Harish, D. K., Imamsaheb, S. J.,
Patil, V. S., Kamati, C. and Preveenkumar,
D. A. (2011). Anthurium varieties
performance and economics under
greenhouse. Res. J. Agric. Sci. 2 : 226-29.