Evaluation of Heliconia Cut-flower Production under Shading

Most Heliconia species are found as understory plants, and occasionally in small open spaces of tropical forests in Central and South America. Despite this fact, cut flower heliconia growers in these regions typically grow them in open, non-shaded production areas with higher levels of irradiance. The present study is being conducted to evaluate the flower productivity and quality of soil-grown heliconia (H. psittacorum L.f. X H. spathocircinata Aristeguieta ‘Golden Torch Adrian’) exposed to five levels of artificial shading: 0%, 35%, 50%, 70%, and 90%. Data from 19 months after planting indicate that days to bloom, number of flower shoots per plant, inflorescence length, number of bracts per inflorescence, and the bracts color (parameter a* only) decreased with increasing shading level by a total of 19%, 61%, 13%, 11%, and 6.8% respectively. Flower shoot fresh weight and length, peduncle length, inflorescence width, and basal bract length were the lowest at full sun and at the 90% shading level. The number of leaves per flower shoot, peduncle basal and distal diameter, and the length of the second to fifth bracts were not affected by shading level. There was a positive correlation of flower shoot fresh weight with peduncle length and basal diameter, inflorescence length and width, and number of bracts per inflorescence. Flower shoot length was positively correlated with peduncle length but not with inflorescence length. The longest flower shoots, which had the longest peduncles, had the widest inflorescences and the longest bracts as well.