Environmental Physiology of Growth and Flowering of Orchids

Flowering potted orchids has become one of the largest segments of fl oriculture worldwide. Large-scale production of cuts or potted plants exists in China, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Despite the value of orchids, the fl owering physiology of most orchid genera is not well described. Therefore, scheduling fl owering crops for specifi c market dates (such as Easter or Mother's Day) is not possible for most genera. This paper summarizes world orchid production and reviews how envi- ronmental factors regulate growth and fl owering of several commercially important orchid genera: Cattleya, Cymbidium, Dendrobium, Miltoniopsis, Phalaenopsis, and Zygopetalum. These genera primarily fl ower in response to relatively low temperatures, and, for some species and hybrids, fl owering is promoted when the plants are also exposed to short pho- toperiods. Effects of light and temperature on growth and development are summarized for these genera, and implications for controlled production are discussed. Orchids are marketed globally as cut fl owers for corsages, fl oral arrangements, and bouquets; as potted fl owering plants; and as bedding or aerial plants in tropical regions. In 1995, worldwide demand for orchids grown for cut fl ower and potted plant production was 1.3 billion units of plant stock (Hew and Yong, 1997). The world consumption of orchids (potted plants) was valued at more than $500 million in 2000 (Wang, 2004). Countries with large-scale potted orchid production include

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