Lilium - species and Varieties - Production technology

18. Lilium - introduction and uses – varieties – media and environment- Fumigation - filed preparation - planting systems – nutrition and fertigation - weed management – training and pruning – special horticultural practices - role of growth regulators- physiological disorders and its control measures- harvest index and yield

1. 1
Lecture No.: 18

2. Scientific classification
SN: Lilium sp
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Anthophyta
Order: Liliales
Family: Liliaceae
Subfamily: Lilioideae
Genus: Lilium
Monocot plant

Native: Northern hemisphere
Chromosome Number:
Lilium Longiflorum: 2n=24
(Diploid)
Lilium Lancifolium: 2n=36
(Triploid)

It has about 400 sp.
Among them about 100 sp are described.
There are about 7000 registered varieties of lily.
Lilies symbolize purity and innocence
One of the distinctive flowers in form, appearance and color.
It can be planted as potted plants (Dwarf varieties), beds or borders.
Asiatic, Oriental, LA hybrid lilies are leading cut flower group in the international market.

Medicinal uses:
Oils prepared from the leaves and flowers (L. candidum)
Can be used in neck ailments, leprosy, fever, wounds, and cosmetic(white lily).
Mixing petals and honey used for remove wrinkles from the face.
In China, Tiger lily bulbs used as a food material.
Singh, 2006 2

3. LILIUM PRODUCTION IN TAMILNADU


Nilgiris emerging as the lilium capital of India.

Nilgiris district; more than 200 growers are cultivating lilium under protected structure.

Kotagiri farmers are growing lily on contract basis.

Area under lilium cultivation 11,490 sqm – average yield – 2,29,800 – 3,00,000 Nos.
Kotagiri – Lilium
Growers (200)
KFC – Lilium Growers
(70)
Small level growers
(500 to 1000 sqmt)
Large level growers
(2000 to 4000 sqmt)
JDH Office, Ooty
3

4. BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION
It is a herbaceous perennial and bulbiferous plant.
Shallow rooted crop.
Stem- erect and leafy.
Leaves- alternate
Flowers-funnel shaped
Tepels-6.
Stamens-6.
Ovary-3. (Superior)
Fruit- capsule.
Seeds arranged like pile of coins.

Bhattacharjee, 2006 4

5. Botanical description of bulb
Bulbs are modified leaves Bhattacharjee, 2006 5

6. Types of Liliums
•Asiatic lilies
•Oriental lilies
•Tiger lilies
•Trumpet lilies
•Turk cap lilies

7. Oriental hybrid lily
Asiatic Hybrid lily
Easter lily
LA hybrids
Classification
L. amabile
L. bulbiferum
L. cernuum
L. concolor
L. davidii
L. x hollandicum
L. lancifolium
L. x maculatum and
L. pumilum

L. auratum
L. japonicum
L. rubellum
L. speciosum
L. longiflorum
L. longiflorum
×
Asiatic lily
Lim, 2000 7

8. Asiatic Hybrid Lily Oriental Hybrid Lily
Originated in Asia

30 to 150 cm Tall

Smaller than other
types

Slight or no fragrance

Early flowering
(10-13 weeks)

Easy to grow, less
expensive

Low vase life
(7-10days)

Lower price
Popular varieties
Dream land (white)
Navona (white)
Found in Japan & Korea

60 to 180 cm Tall

Fragrant

Late flowering type (14-
19 weeks)

Difficult & Expensive to
grow

Longer vase life
(10-15 days)

Fetch good price

Stargazer (Pink)
Mero star
Siberia
Casablanca (White)

Easter Lily
45 to 60 cm Tall

Fragrant

(14-17 weeks)

Vase life (8-10 days)

White Europe
Snow Queen



Lilium Cultivation Manual, APEDA,2006
8

9. L. auratum
Gold band
L. candidum
Bourbon Lilly
L. formosum
L. giganteum
L. longiflorum Easter Lily
L. nepalense
9

10. L. neilgherrense
L. martagon
Turk’s-Cap Lilly

L .tigrinum
Double type(L.tigrinum)
L. henryi
L.wilmottiae
10

11. L. Amabile (A)
L. Columbianum
Columbia Tiger
L. parryi
Lemon Lily of California
L. Pumilum (A)
L. dauricum
L. monodelphum
Bhattacharjee, 2006 11

12. L. pardalinum
Leopard lily
L. Philadelpicum
Wild Orange
L. regale
L. polyphyllum
L. martagon
12

13. Top ten varieties

Variety Colour Type
Star Gazer Red white Oriental
Snow Queen White Longiflorum
Pollyanna Yellow Asiatic
Vivaldi Pink Asiatic
Casa Blanca White Oriental
Elite Orange Asiatic
Acapulco White Oriental
Marco Polo White / pink Oriental
Le Reve Pink Oriental
Montreux Pink Asiatic

14. Types & Varieties:
1. Asiatic
(Bulb size 10-16 cm) : Dream land (Yellow),
Brunello (Orange),
Novona (White)
Pollyanna (Yellow)
2. Oriental
(Bulb size 16-22 cm) : Stargazer
Acapulco
Siberia
All Season
3. Longiflorum
(Bulb size 16-22 cm) : White Heaven
Snow queen
4. LA Hybrids
(Bulb size 12-20 cm) : Royal Trinity
Red planet
Best sellar
Indian Diamond

15. Red Twin
New varieties of Asiatic Hybrid Lilies
Nightflyer
Forever Susan
Blackout
Captain Kidd
Contagem
www.thelilygarden.com 15

16. Ladylike
Push Off
Richmond
Eleanor Roosevelt
16

17. Connecticut King
Asiatic Hybrid Lily varieties
www.royalvanzanten.com
Vilvadi
Pollyanna
17

18. Oriental Hybrid Lily varieties
Star Gazer
www.royalvanzanten.com
Acapulco
Casa Blanca
Limoncello
Fleurise
18

19. Tangelo
Anastasia
Hotline www.royalvanzanten.com
Oriental Hybrid Lilies
19

20. Trumpet & Aurelian Lilies
Saltarello
Goldsmith
Madame Butterfly
www.royalvanzanten.com 20

21. Double types
Blushing Girl
Broken Heart
Fata Morgana
Innocent Lady
www.vws-flowerbulbs.com
21

22. Spring Pink Stainless Steel
Little Kiss Easy Samba
Pollen free varieties
www.vws-flowerbulbs.com 22

23. Initiator
Tridex
Yellow Baby
Flevo White
Pot varieties
www.vws-flowerbulbs.com
23

24. Polyhouse cultivation of lilium
24

25. Shading net
Reduces temperature & avoids leaf scorching on plants
Movable shad net is ideal for opening/closing
50% agro white shade net is cheaper
Ventilation:
Polyfilm produce heat inside polyhouse
Side ventilation in combination with top ventilation is necessary to keep the natural airstreams
flowing
Top ventilation gap of minimum 1.5 feet

•

Selvaraj, 2007
25

26. 1: Prepare the soil to a fine tilth.
Soil sterilization Basamid application
2:Irrigate and leave for one
week to activate the soil
organisms & weed seeds.
3: After one week, prepare
beds with friable crumb
structure
4: Spread Basamid uniformly on the surface of
the beds at the rate of 30g / m
2
5: Press the bed by rolling over with
heavy/loaded drum or using a roller
26

27. 6: Seal the soil by polythene sheet and prevent the active
gases from escaping. Cover the beds with Polythene sheet
and seal the margins tightly
7: After 5 days (under normal temperature of 25ºC- 30ºC
and no rains) loosen the soil to 15 cm depth with the
implement, which is used for incorporation of Basamid.
8: Leave open the bed for 2 - 3 days to allow the escape
of toxic gases.
27

28. Field Preparation & Planting
28

29. Soil requirements
Well drained and very rich in organic matter
Sandy loam ideal - pH 6.5 – 7.5
Soil: Peat moss at 1:1 ratio

Red soil-60%
FYM-30%
Sand-10%
Coir compost – 19kg/sqm
Singh, 2006
29

30. Bed layout
25 cm
1 m
1 m
40 cm
Singh, 2006
30

31. Propagation
Flowers - 12-14 weeks to attain commercial grade size

Flower buds pinched to increase in flower size
Bulbs
Bulb division
Stem bulblets
Tissue culture
Stem bulbils
Scales
Seeds
Leaf cuttings
Dadlani, 2006
31

32. Bulb Division Stem Bulblets
Stem Bulbils
Tissue culture
Scales grow at 18
o
C not above
21
o
C
Kyte and Kleyn 1996 32

33. Points to be considered while procuring bulbs
Bulb size, bud colour, bud count at the time of procurement very much important
Cultivars should have bud count of 3-5, upright facing, sturdy stem
Asiatic bulb size should not be less than 10 -12 cm & for Oriental lily – 14-16 cm
Free from pest & diseases
Should reach the polyhouse/ planting site without damage

Bhattacharjee, 2006
33

34. Forcing of bulbs
A six week cold storage period of 2
o
C to 5
o
C for Asiatic and longiflorums, and eight
weeks for Orientals is needed to induce the flowers
This is an essential part of the forcing process
DORMANCY

It is the period of rest when most of the physiological process are slowed down.

Lilium is a summer flowering bulb on the hills, its dormancy period during winter
when the temperature is low.

The site of dormancy in easter lily – daughter scales

Dormancy breaking

Cold treatment 5
o
C for 6 weeks or GA at 3 mg/ lit. in L. speciosum.
Bhattacharjee, 2006 34

35. Planting Density


Bulb size Bulbs/m
2
Planting distance (cm)
8-10 cm 49 15 X 15
10-12 cm 42 16 X 15
12-14 cm 36 16 X 18
14-16 cm 36 16 X 18
Planting density depends on bulb size

35

36. Bulb should be planted to the depth of 3 times
more than the diameter of bulb

Pre & post planting environments - important
for growth & flowering of lilies

Planting time – (i) Plains – Sep. – Oct.

(ii) Hills – March - April
Planting
Bhattacharjee, 2006
36

37. Lilium bulbs planting depth
37

38. Fully grown Liliums in crates
Liliums in crates
Greenhouse crate production of liliums -three-
week-old bulbs

38

39. Growing
Environment
Light
Temperature
Humidity
Initial (4 Weeks) :12-15°C
Day Temp :21-25°C
Night Temp :15-17°C
Temperature below 15°C can
result in bud drop and yellowing in
Oriental Hybrids
White Shade net 75%

Long day – Promoted
Vegetative growth

Low light intensity
abscission, weeek stem, Bud
drop in asiatic Hybrids

High light – Shortens the
Stem
80-85%
Rapid change in RH-
result in leaf scorch

Proper ventilation
Proper irrigation
CO
2
: 800-1000 ppm
Longiflorum hybrids
±2000ppm
Crop duration :70-110 days
Singh, 2006
39

40. 15
o
C
12
o
C
9
o
C
Ko et al., 2009.
40

41. Irrigation


Drip system is used to
prevent tall, top-heavy
plants from toppling
 Lily is susceptible to
saline water
 EC of irrigation water
below 0.5 dsm
-1

Dripper
Bulb
20 cm
Dripper
Water requirement in summer – 6 – 8 lit/m
2
/day
Water requirement in winter – 4-5 lit/m
2
/day


41

42. Fertigation (Farmers practice)
12:61:00 (MAP) - 2kg/100 m
2
- one week before planting to get good root development
3 weeks after planting - Calcium Nitrate @ 1 kg / 100 m
2

6 weeks after planting - Potassium nitrate @ 1 kg/100 m
2

Top dressing of Ammonium nitrate @ 1kg/100 m
2
given during N deficiency
42

43. Nutrient recommendation for cocopeat media
Nutrients Quantity (mmol/l)
Asiatic Hybrids Oriental Hybrids
Nitrogen N=(NO
3,NH
4) 2.0 3.0
Phosphate P 0.15 0.15
Potash K 1.0 1.3
Calcium Ca 1.5 1.8
Magnesium Mg 0.8 1.0
Sulphate SO
4 1.5 1.5
Fertilizer requirement in kg/1000 l of water for A and B tanks:
Fertilizer Grade Fertilizer requirement (kg/1000 l water)
Asiatic Oriental
'A' Tank
Calcium Nitrate 69 76
Ammonium Nitrate 9 7
Potassium nitrate 22 17
'B' Tank
Potassium Nitrate 51 48
Magnesium Sulphate 49 52
Borax 0.5 0.5
Misra, 2013
43

44. Intercultural operation
Stalking and Netting

Netting is done 50-60 cm intervals.

It reduces breakage of stems.
Mulching

Done in the spring with well rotten
manure, compost, or leaf mould.

It reduce the weed growth
Weed control
Chloropham @ 3.5l/ha and Propyzamide @ 2.25 Kg/ha for weeds except leguminous weeds
Paraquet applied before crop emergence
Shallow hoeing is generally recommended
44
Misra, 2013

45. Plant growth regulators
ABA @200ppm delay sprouting

IAA promote bulb formation & effective emergence of second scales in L.longiflorum

Phosphon @ 2.25g/plant reduce stem length

Ancymidol, Paclobutrazol and Uniconazole as spray or soil drench reduce height of lilium

CCC @ 2500ppm improve flowering

GA
3 100ppm induce early flowering

Bulb formation accelerated by treating with IAA @ 1000ppm and TIBA @ 500ppm
Misra, 2013
45

46. Flower forcing
Storage of bulbs @ 4.4
0
C for 6 weeks ideal for early emergence and produce taller plants

Bulbs stored at 7.2-10
0
C in moist peat for 5-6 weeks produce early flowering

12 hours photoperiod for visible bud stage to anthesis and 21.1/18.3
0
C of day/ night regime
optimal for early flowering
Selvaraj, 2007
46

47. Harvest and Yield
Stage of harvest

Local market - When 1-2 florets open

Distant market - When 1-2 florets show colour

Flowers
1,00,000 to 1,12,500 stems/ha.
Bulbs
1,25,000 to 1,50,000/ha.
Yield
47 Singh, 2006

48. Post harvest handling

Stems are graded according to number of flower buds per stem, length and firmness of stem.

During bunching, remove 10 cm of foliage from the end of stems & sleeve the flowers

 Immediately after bunching, the cut flowers should be placed in cold water in cold storage
room at 2ºC to 3ºC

Add 2% sucrose and 100ppm GA
3 as a preservative agent to water to improve vase life of
flower.


48

49. Contd……..
•Pulsing : 0.5-1.0% silver thiosulphate.
Holding solution: 200 ppm - 8-HQC + 3% sucrose
Stored in cold storage @ 2
o
C to 3
o
C
Grading
Grading is done based on the number of buds per stem.




Grades Price per stem (Rs.)
Asiatic Oriental
A+ - 4+ buds 25 35
A - 4 buds 20 30
B - 3 buds 15 20
C - 2 buds 10 15
Vase life
Asiatics : 7 – 14 days
Oriental : 10 – 15 days
Longiflorum: 8 – 10 days
49

50. Post Harvest treatment of bulbs
Reduce the frequency of irrigation water.

Maintain soil moisture level such that bulb scales should not dry out.

Allow bulbs to remain in beds for 4-5 weeks.

Remove the bulbs carefully without damaging.

Wash the bulbs with 2 % Carbendazim for 10 minutes.

•Air dry the bulbs in shade.

In U.S.A. commercial grade are 15-17.5, 17.5 – 20, 20-22.5, 22.5 and 22.5- 25 cm in size.

The bulbs should be cooled 0-2
o
C within 3 weeks of lifting and before storage.
Singh, 2006
50
Cultvars Temperature
o
C
Asiatic - 2
Oriental -1.5
Longiflorum -1.5
Other hybrids -2.0

51. Contd…

Immediately after air drying pack the bulbs in
plastic crates with mist coco peat wrapped with
perforated plastic sleeves


Coco peat should be sterilized


Keep the crates in cold storage at 2
o
C for 2 weeks &
at -1
o
c for 6 weeks


Keep the crates open for one day in cold storage
and then close with plastic sleeves

Singh, 2006
51

52. Grading
Storage of bulbs
52

53. Pest and Diseases
Diseases
Botrytis blight
Fusarium scale rot
Foot rot
Foot rot
Viral
Tulip breaking virus
Cucumber mosaic virus

Pest
Aphids
Stalk borer
Thrips
Bub mite

54. Botrytis blight
Symptoms
Small, dark brown spots on foliage
Infected tissue gradually dies off
Raised area on buds, bud rotting, deformed
development on opened flower grey, watery, round spots

Control
Keep crop dry by adjusting plant density
Irrigation in morning
Alternate spraying (TN: Captaf, Hexacap) (CN: captan
@ 2gm + (CN: Carbendazim) (TN: Bavistin) @ 2gm/lit
or Bavistin @ 2gm + (TN:Dithane M 45) (CN:
mancozeb) @ 2gm/lit

55. Fusarium scale rot

Symptoms
Underground brown spots on top and side of
bulb
Later on start to rot
 Retarded growth
Pale foliage
Control
Soil disinfection.
Maintain lowest possible soil and
greenhouse temperature
Remove infected scales

56. Foot rot

Symptoms
Attacks the stem at the soil level
causing wilting and death of the plants
Control measure
Spraying with (CN: benomyl) (TN:
benlate) 0.1% , Chlorothalonil (TN:
Bravo, Daconil2787) 1.5 gm/ lit of
water

57. Viral
Symptoms
 Viral infection include foliar mosaic
(bright to faint yellow mottling and
streaking), rings (dark or yellow)
Abnormal flower size, color-break ,
stunting of random plants, and
distorted leaves

58. Lily Beetle
Damage
Feed on leaves, stems, buds and flowers
Control
Spray Thiodicarb 70 WP @ 400 g/acre
Spray Sevin 0.2% is effective control measure

59. Aphid

Symptoms
It attack the crop causing deformation of leaves
Green spots on young buds; flower could be
deformed and remain partially green
Control
Weed control
Spray with chloropyriphos (TN: Dursban) @
2ml/lit or Acephate (TN: Asraf) @ 1ml/lit

60. Thrips
Symptoms
They produce brown sunken areas at
the base of outer scale, which become
brittle
Plants shows stunted growth

Control
 Spraying Endosulfon (TN:Thiodan
0.05%)

61. Borer
Caterpillars are brown with a
white dorsal stripe, primarily
living inside the stalks or twigs
of host plants
Control
Spraying of Endosolfon
(Thiodan, Thionex) @ 0.05%

62. Viral diseases
Lily symptomless virus (LSV)- vein clearing and transmitted by aphids in a non persistent
manner
Lily mottle virus (LiMV) – stunted plant growth and flowering get malformed with colour
break. LiMV can be detected in hybridization assays
Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) – mosaic pattern on foliage and necrosis on plants.
Over all symptoms of viral disease affected plants dwarf and crippled.

Bacterial disease
Feathery tip rot: scale tip shows feathery paper like tan appearance because of injury of bulbs
during harvest.

Pathogen: Pectofacterium carotovorum and Bacillus lilii causes decay of bulbs

Control :
Healthy planting material
Affected plants and bulbs discarded immediately.
Bhattacharjee, 2006
62

63. Abnormalities
Leaf scorch
Cause:
Imbalance between absorption and evaporation of water.
Inadequate absorption or evaporation - calcium deficiency in the cells of the youngest leaves.
Cells are destroyed and die.
Sudden change in the relative humidity inside the greenhouse can affect this process related to
poor root system and high salt level in the soil.
Large bulbs are more susceptible than smaller one.

Control:
1.Soil moistened before planting.

2.Susceptible varieties - avoided.

3.Bulbs with good root system are to be selected for planting.

4.Planting is to be done at an adequate depth i.e. 6 to 10cm of soil is allowed above the bulb.

5.Change in greenhouse temperature and air humidity levels should be avoided.

6.RH level of around 75% should be maintained.

7.Excess transpiration should be avoided by providing shade.

Bhattacharjee, 2006
63

64. Bud blasting and abscission

Occurs when bud is about 1.2-2.5cm in length.

It is associated with low light intensity and short photoperiods.

Occurs in late spring and early summer due to high temperature.

Shortage of water at top of plant, competition of limited nutrients and high level of soil
nitrate.

Eliminated by artificial light about 450 watts/m
2
one month before flowering

Puffy foliage (Due to frost injury and stunting of plants)
Bhattacharjee, 2006
64

65. FRESH FLOWER MARKET IN INDIA
Bangalore : City Flower Market, Near Town Hall, Ramgi flowers, Om Sree Sai, Flora venjura,
V.K Flora.

Hyderabad : New Osmanganj Market

Mumbai : Dadar Flower Market / Bhuleswar Flower Market

New Delhi : Connaught Place / Mehrauli Flower Market

65

66. THANK YOU
66