Effects of some hormone applications on germination and morphological characters of endangered plant species Lilium artvinense L. Onion scales

Abstract

Lilies are economically important plants because of their large and attractive flowers. Thus, many wild species of lilies have been cultivated to produce lilium bulbs or flowers. However, some non-cultivated species are still found in nature, picked and sold, which damages the natural populations of the species. The easiest and most effective way of preventing them from being nature picked is the identification of easy and cheap methods of producing them. This study attempts to determine the ways of producing Lilium artvinense by the use of bulb flakes. 4 hormones (Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and Gibberellic acid (GA3) were used, and 12 hormone applications were made. 3 doses (1000 ppm, 3000 ppm, and 5000 ppm) were used from each hormone. In addition, a control group was used. Each application was made to the basal, middle, and apical parts of the bulb flakes. In this way, 39 applications were made in total. The applications to the bulb flakes were compared in terms of 6 characters (i.e. rooting percentage, the number of roots, root height, the number of scions, scion width and height). Hormone applications can increase the likelihood of success at least two-fold, thus the species can be produced easily and cheaply.