Inducement of Flowering in Taniers (Xanthosoma spp)

Abstract

Tanier has not been improved through breeding because of a lack of uniform flowering in some clones or a lack of flowering in others. Flowering of taniers was induced by foliar application of gibberellic acid (GA₃). One foliar application of 250 p/m of GA₃ applied to 13-week-old plants induced 100% flowering within 19 weeks; three biweekly applications of 500 p/m induced 100% flowering within 15 weeks, and three biweekly applications of 100 p/m induced 88% flowering within 21 weeks of the first application. Both the white-fleshed and yellow-fleshed cultivars were induced to flower. More plants flowered, flowered sooner, and produced more flowers per plant when GA₃ plus 6-benzyladenine (BA) was used than when GA₃ was used alone. Flowers from the treated plants produced much pollen. Applications of GA₃ at 250 p/m or more, either alone or in combination with BA, promoted a branching effect on the cormels. The plant shape in all GA₃, and GA₃ plus BA treatments was altered. As a result, from three to more than eight auxiliary shoots developed per plant.